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Despite potential legal case, recall effort, city approves medical marijuana ban

A Grand Rapid’s suburb is the latest city to adopt a ban on medical marijuana. Wyoming City Council voted unanimously in favor of local laws that reflect federal rules governing marijuana over the state’s new laws allowing medicinal use.

Mayor Jack Poll, who is also a pharmacist, says they would like to see medical marijuana dispensed as any other drug for the safety of the patient and the city’s neighborhoods.

“This is not a vote against the people that need this medication; this is a vote against the way it is being dispensed.”

About two dozen residents say they’re planning to recall the board.

“If I have to be recalled because I vote on preserving safety in our community, the City of Wyoming, the city I love…then so be it,” Council member Rich Pastoor said, “I feel we’re doing the right thing. The only way to handle this is like we handle any other drug.”

Wyoming followed the examples of Detroit suburbs of Livonia, Bloomfield Hills and Birmingham. Those cities are being sued by the ACLU. The organization has indicated it’s considering adding Wyoming to the case.

Wyoming’s administrative officials say they’ll meet in the coming weeks to decide how Wyoming Police will enforce the local ban.

Lindsey Smith is a Peabody Award-winning journalist currently leading the station's Amplify Team. She previously served as Michigan Public's Morning News Editor, Investigative Reporter and West Michigan Reporter.
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