Ferndale Requires Marijuana 
Facilities to Provide Addiction Resource Info.
(Crystal A. Proxmire, March 15, 2016)
Ferndale, MI – Ferndale City Council voted Monday to add a regulation for businesses that sell medical marijuana to include information about addiction resources.
The addition to the ordinance regulating such facilities calls for marijuana dispensaries to provide information to patients about addiction recovery. “Each medical marihuana facility shall provide each qualified patient with notice that advises qualified patients of the risks associated with developing addiction, particularly those persons with a history of drug abuse. This notice shall provide contact information for the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Section of the Michigan 
Department of Health and Human Services, the Substance Use Treatment Services provided through Oakland County’s Community Mental Health Authority or other local or statewide resources available for addiction problems and concerns. The notice may be a posted sign visible to qualified patients at the medical marihuana facility or printed materials provided to each qualified patient.”
Councilperson Dan Martin introduced the requirement, which passed unanimously.
“This is not about marijuana, it is about the disease of addiction,” Martin said. “If this helps even one person get helps that needs it, then it’s worth it.”
Martin noted that providing resources to consumers is not new. “There are warnings up about gambling addiction at casinos, warnings on packs of cigarettes about the dangers of smoking, warnings on alcohol. But because this is such a new industry the regulations have not caught up yet.”
He stated that this was his idea, and he does not know of any other city that requires it. “It’s like any other regulation for a business. Part of opening a business is knowing what cities require and finding the climate that works for your business,” Councilperson Martin said. “This is not something that is going to prevent any business from opening. The cost is nominal 
compared to the ability to save a life.”
The materials do not have to say that marijuana is addictive, they just have to let people know if they have an addiction – of any kind – that there is help. Martin also said that the information is not intended to be medical advice or judgment against the product being sold.
“I support medical marijuana and the city has been working hard on crafting ordinances so that facilities can open in Ferndale,” he said. Four potential medical marijuana businesses have begun the planning process, though none have yet set a date on opening.
For marijuana-related stories go to: https://oaklandcounty115.com/?s=marijuana.
For resources through the State of Michigan (that would comply with the ordinance requirement), go to: http://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/0,5885,7-339-71550_2941_4871_4877—,00.html.
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