Mich.: Tell Niles and Royal Oak not to pass local ordinances that conflict with state law

Published: May 8, 2009

On May 11 and 12, the cities of Niles and Royal Oak will be considering local ordinances that conflict with Initiated Law 1 of 2008, Michigan's voter-enacted medical marijuana law. These proposed ordinances would only allow caregivers to grow medical marijuana in designated zones within the cities. 

This restriction would defeat the purpose of the law by denying patients safe access. Caregivers are only allowed to assist five patients and will not be able to afford to rent separate locations outside their homes to perform their compassionate services. Many caregivers will be family members who live in the same house as the patients. They often won't receive any compensation at all. It would be absurd to require a married couple to rent out a separate building at great expense so the healthy partner could grow plants for his or her spouse. Though the planning departments in the cities may have had good intentions, these ordinances must be voted down and we need your help to make that happen.

If you live near Niles, which is in southwestern Michigan near South Bend, Indiana, please take the time to attend the City Council meeting.

When: Monday, May 11, at 6:00 p.m.

Where: 1345 East Main Street, Niles, MI 49120

What: Please offer your public comments urging the Niles City Council to vote down the current ordinance.  If you are unable to attend in person, you can e-mail your written comments to the city clerk at RHarte@nilesmi.org before the meeting on Monday. Here are some talking points about the ordinance, which includes more details about other problematic provisions. 

If you live near Royal Oak, which is in Oakland County, please take the time to attend the Plan Commission public hearing.

When: Tuesday, May 12, at 7:30 p.m.

Where: 211 S Williams Street, Royal Oak, MI 48067

What: Please offer your public comments urging the Royal Oak Plan Commission to not approve the current ordinance, which is not yet available to the public, but which has received news coverage. If you are not able to attend in person, you can fax your written comments to the Planning Department at (248) 246-3005 before the meeting on Tuesday. Here are some talking points about the ordinance.

Be sure to be respectful and polite in your public comments and letters and to dress appropriately for a government hearing. Seek to educate these officials about our new law while not assuming that they have bad intentions. 

Also, you can submit a short letter to the editor (less than 200 words) to your local paper urging the defeat of these ordinances, using the talking points for Royal Oak or Niles. You can submit to the Detroit Free Press, letters@detnews.com at the Detroit News, editor@dailytribune.com at the Daily Tribune (Oakland County), or DBrewer@heraldpalladium.com at the Herald-Palladium (Southwestern Michigan).  Here are some tips for writing an effective letter.

Thank you for supporting the Marijuana Policy Project. Please pass this message on to other supporters of Initiated Law 1 of 2008 so we can ensure that the law is implemented faithfully.