Mich. city eyeing medical marijuana shops

ROYAL OAK, Mich., May 7 (UPI) -- A Royal Oak, Mich., official says the city is considering a zoning ordinance that would pave the way for legal medical marijuana stores.

City Planner Doug Hedges said the ordinance would mandate any state-registered medical marijuana suppliers, also known as caregivers, to operate in the general business district of the city, The Detroit News said Thursday.

"The act does allow a caregiver to be compensated for services so they are a potential commercial activity," Hedges said. "We thought it best to treat them as a business. We don't allow home occupations in Royal Oak where a customer visits a home."

Current Michigan state law currently limits the number of registered patients for whom an approved medical marijuana supplier can grow to five. Each client represents 2.5 grams and 12 plants the registered supplier can possess at a given time.

Hedges said if the City Commission passes the proposal after discussing it next Tuesday, he expects a group of caregivers to open a store together to pool their patients.