This article was originally published on the Marijuana Patients Organization site on January 25, 2011.
Royal Oak City Commissioners approved an ordinance allowing the use, but outlaws the cultivation of medical marijuana.
The ordinance is being referred to as the “modified Livonia ordinance,” an action that most commission members agree would expose the city to lawsuits, as most Michigan communities, including Livonia, are facing following the adoption of marijuana ordinances.
Users are bringing lawsuits against communities enacting ordinances, saying the rules are in opposition to a 2008 state statute approving the use and cultivation of the plant for medicinal purposes. In November, the ACLU brought a suit against Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills and Livonia over the issue.
The alternative to adopting an ordinance would have been to extend the city’s moratorium, which was set to expire in February.
In other actions:
■The Commission members voted against prohibiting liquor sales on Christmas Day.
■The Commission approved the liquor license request of Gemmayze, a Middle-Eastern cuisine restaurant and lounge set to open this spring in the former Small Plates location.
■The Commission also approved a dance floor permit for the Bastone/Café Habana/Commune/Vinotecca location on Main Street. The restaurant group was operating with a temporary permit before the approval.