DETROIT (AP) - Several medical marijuana dispensaries have abandoned their lawsuit challenging a new Detroit ordinance regulating where pot shops can operate.
The dispensaries had complained that the ordinance is too restrictive. They dropped their suit last Friday, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Melvin Hollowell, Detroit's Corporation Counsel, said in a news release that the city's "medical marijuana regulations are lawful, fair and reasonable."
"We will continue to enforce compliance in the courts, while concurrently processing the applications submitted for medical marijuana caregiver center licenses," Hollowell said.
Michigan voters approved marijuana use for some chronic medical conditions in 2008.
Detroit's zoning law was adopted in December by the City Council. It is expected to force the closure or regulation of many medical marijuana dispensaries in the city and limit the growth of others.
It prohibits dispensaries from operating within 1,000 feet of a church, school, park, liquor store, other marijuana shops and other places considered a drug-free zone under city law, including libraries and child-care centers.
Hollowell said in December that there are about 650 parcels of land in Detroit where dispensaries could legally be housed.
The lawsuit was recently filed by 10 dispensaries that said the city turned down their applications, The Detroit News reported.
The shops are in areas considered to be drug-free zones.
Published: Tue, Apr 12, 2016
