Latest news, weather, high school sports for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

MARQUETTE -- Legalizing medical marijuana has helped many Michigan residents cope with their illnesses.  In the last eight months, the Marquette Medical Marihuana registration center has certified about 300 Marquette residents.

But the vagueness of the new law has posed some questions for cities like Marquette.

"We're trying to stay somewhat ahead of the curve and find out, as a city, how we want to deal with this," said Mayor John Kivela.

The first issue is who should be permitted to grow and distribute the cannabis?  And where should their operations be located?  There are currently no zoning laws in place.

"If we don't have zoning in place, could they locate one right next to the middle school?  Yeah, they probably could," Kivela said. "We need to address where and how; you know, there's aspects of security."

"The relationship to schools, the relationship to children, where are they located, there are other things that happen.  Crimes increase around dispensaries and historically, robberies," said Police Chief Mike Angeli.

Another question brought by the new law:  should marijuana possession be reduced from a criminal to a civil offense?

"A civil infraction would be much like a speeding ticket or to a degree of a parking ticket that you would pay the fine and be released, and it would not remain on your record," Kivela explained.

Police are concerned that reducing the punishment for marijuana possession would simply encourage its use, but other officials argue that the current criminal punishment is too strong.  Either way, officials plan to hash out these marijuana issues at a special meeting on Monday, January 24, at 6 p.m. in the commission chambers.