I disagree with Council members A'Lynne Robinson and Tina Houghton's vote to set a medical marijuana establishment cap to 48 in the City of Lansing.

I am asking for the permanent cap to be lowered to 24 with no more than 6 in each ward.

EXCESSIVELY HIGH

48 is MORE than the number of dispensaries in operation at this time.

There is no guarantee they will be evenly spread out throughout all 4 wards. This is especially concerning since dispensaries can now locate in zones F, F1, H, and I.

WE DO NOT NEED MORE DISPENSARIES THAN PHARMACIES

The City of Lansing has 27 registered pharmacies to serve the health needs of all 100% of our 114,285 residents. (1) 

Medical marijuana patients make up less than 2% of the entire population in Ingham county and even less in Eaton and Clinton counties.

There are only 7,190 active patients in all of Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton counties, with 2000 estimated in Lansing City.(2)  

If only medical patients are being served by these establishments there is no need to have nearly double the number of dispensaries than pharmacies.

ALTERNATIVE COMPROMISES ARE AVAILABLE

The coalition and the 144 petitioners had asked for a cap of 10. The coalition steering committee agreed to compromise with up to 24 (6 in each ward). 

We had even discussed a graduated cap, following Ann Arbor's model. That model would set a lower permanent cap (i.e. t 24) but allow current dispensaries to remain in operation provided they met all other rules and did not change ownership.

This approach will consider the needs of legitimate patients and neighborhood stabilization.

I urge council to set a permanent cap to 24 or fewer dispensaries with an option for a graduated cap if necessary.

Data Sources

(1) 2010 Census

(2) State of Michigan Department of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs as of 7/5/2011