Royal Oak Restricts Growing Medical Marijuana

ROYAL OAK, Mich. (WJBK) - Royal Oak is the latest place to put serious restrictions on medical marijuana. This is one battle that just keeps on smoking.

"The reality in Michigan today is medical marijuana is here. It's here to stay," said Rick Thompson with Michigan Medical Marijuana Magazine.

A number of metro Detroit communities are trying to limit medical marijuana's availability and use. The latest is Royal Oak where a new ordinance that takes effect February third will prevent patients and caregivers from growing medical marijuana in their homes.

"These city resources are so precious now to spend them on fighting medical marijuana is ridiculous," said FOX 2 Legal Analyst Charlie Langton.

He said that's contrary to Michigan law, which allows patients and caregivers to maintain up to twelve plants in their homes for licensed medical use.

"60-percent of the voters in Michigan want medical marijuana," Langton said.

Yet more and more cash strapped cities are fighting it and being sued because of laws like the one in Royal Oak.

Langton said state law is badly in need of clarification to prevent unnecessary legislation and the lawsuits that challenge it.

"It's got to be corrected because city's don't know what they can and can't do," he said.