Attorney General Bill Schuette says

was thorough, thoughtful and clear: "These pot shops need to be shut down."

The appeals court unanimously declared Compassionate Apothecary in Mount Pleasant a "public nuisance" and said marijuana dispensaries are not legal under Michigan law, a ruling with far-reaching implications for the

currently operating in the state.

The court "clarified that (dispensaries) are nowhere in the law and that those who continue to operate do so at their own peril facing criminal charges," Schuette said this morning on WJR-AM 760.

"And now, local law enforcement have the tools to make sure they can declare these pot shops a public nuisance. So, I'll be working with local prosecutors across the state to give them the tools to make sure they have safe communities."

Listen: Bill Schuette







Critics say shutting down dispensaries will limit patient access to their medication and end up hurting the same residents that Michigan voters wanted to help when they approved the law in 2008.

"This is the opposite of what Bill Schuette said he wanted to do, which is help patients," Rick Thompson, spokesman for the Michigan Association for Compassion Centers,

. "This is a sad day for patients who are losing the support system voters created. It's being taken away by the sweep of a pen."

The

makes no mention of dispensaries, and municipalities across the state have wrestled with the issue. Many cities in Southeast Michigan have passed ordinances limiting or banning marijuana clinics, and

last year.

After three years of confusion over the law, Schuette said the appeals court made "an easy call."

Check out the full WJR interview with Schuette in the embedded player above.