Medical marijuana debate heats up in Warren, Detroit

Detroit leaders also debating licensing, regulation

WARREN, Mich. – The debate over medical marijuana is heating up in the city of Warren.

Mayor Jim Fouts will push for legislation that will regulate the dispensaries. The legislation would force owners to grow and store marijuana in manufacturing districts along with requiring registration and inspections by the city.

The Detroit City Council also is looking at licensing and regulating medical marijuana. Council President Pro-Tem George Cushingberry is pushing for dispensaries to be allowed drive-through service and the ability to have more of them closer together.

"Some people say that they didn't believe that this would happen, that we would have these facilities come up. But as I look around my neighborhood and all the boarded-up buildings, I would much rather have a tax payer there than a boarded-up building," said Cushingberry.

Not all of Cushingberry's colleagues support this.

As for Warren, its City Council will hear more about Fouts' proposed ordinance at a meeting Tuesday night.