Saginaw City Hall was packed Monday with protesters calling for the City Council to vote down a six-month moratorium to freeze medical marijuana production and use while leaders rework zoning laws for the drug.



The council later postponed the decision. They will vote at a 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 11, meeting at City Hall, 1315 S. Washington.



As of Friday, six people had signed up to speak about the topic. By Monday's 1 p.m. deadline to sign up for the public speaking session, 28 people registered, although only 22 people spoke. Protesters as far as Detroit, Clio, Niles and Grand Rapids signed up to speak on the subject.



City Clerk Diane Herman said the long-distance interest likely originated from Web sites calling on medical marijuana advocates to oppose the measure.



Paul Meyer, a Saginaw Township family physician who spoke Monday, said he wasn't in favor of medical marijuana before voters state-wide OK'd legislation in November 2008 that made it legal to grow, sell and use the drug for medical purposes.



That changed when he met patients who showed significant medical progress because of marijuana, he said.



Meyer said the council is opening the door to lawbreaking with the moratorium.



"You've got to consider the downside," he said. "That creates a shortage which could be filled by illegal outside providers. I don't think you want that."



John Roberts, executive director of a pro-medical marijuana group in Saginaw called Tri-City Compassion Club, said the measure would force ill residents into "the black market."



"I don't understand why we're going forth with this," Roberts said. "This will only bring on unnecessary lawsuits."



Some protesters traveled from across the state to speak against the proposal.



Brandy Zinc, a Detroit resident and executive director of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Association, said the ordinance is "harmful."



"Why is Saginaw attempting people from having safe and legal access to this," Zinc said. "The city of Saginaw would try to step between a doctor and a patient, and a patient and a caregiver. By placing a moratorium and waiting six months, you are waiting for patients to die."



Casey Kornoelje said a ski accident in 2007 left him in need of strong pain killers. Michigan's law allowing medical marijuana use gave Kornoelje a better alternative to help his pain, the Grand Rapids resident said.



"This is a direct violation of the Michigan Marijuana Act," he said. "A majority of the Saginaw County residents passed this proposal. This proposal does not give the city additional rights to infringe on the rights of patients or on caregivers."



Monday's chamber was filled with protesters. When public speakers finished their talks, the crowd cheered without exception. Twice, Mayor Greg Branch used his gavel to quiet the group's applause. The public addressed the council for about 60 minutes.



City Attorney Thomas H. Fancher said he believes opposition to the move amounts to a misunderstanding of moratoriums and City Hall's intention for seeking the freeze.



The citywide moratorium — which would go into effect through June 30 — would pause marijuana and marijuana-related sales and growth.



The moratorium does not include residents or businesses with already established ties to medical marijuana, Fancher said. In other words, a grandfather clause excludes buyers and sellers already in business.



Fancher said that, technically speaking, a resident who registers to use — and, therefore, buy — medical marijuana during the six-month period would be violating the moratorium.



He said City Hall isn't looking to knock down residential doors to catch users in violation, though.



"All we're really concerned about are these shops," Fancher has said. "Right now, the code doesn't address them."



The targeted shops could include businesses that don't sell the drug but do produce or sell medical marijuana equipment, such as hydroponic appliances and growing lights, he said.



"(State law) touches on these but not in a comprehensive way," he has said. "We want to address that."



Fancher said those concerned about the city imposing zoning laws that would supersede the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act legislation shouldn't worry, either.



He said municipalities often enforce temporary moratoriums similar to what's on the council's table, including freezes on fast food restaurant developments.



The city attorney said officials still are determining how to proceed with developing the zoning changes, but it could include a citizens panel that would provide ideas.



