
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Grand Rapids will use a lottery system to determine the order in which medical marijuana facility proposals will be considered by the city planning commission.
In anticipation of a rush of proposals when the city begins accepting applications on Nov. 1, officials decided on a lottery to avoid individuals lining up to be first in line to apply.
The city will allow a limited number of medical marijuana facilities in Grand Rapids based on separation distances from residential districts, parks, schools, religious institutions, treatment facilities and other marijuana facilities.
"We've heard from other places that they can have a ton of applications," said Landon Bartley, senior city planner for Grand Rapids. "We originally were going to do first-come, first-served and had this whole plan for queuing and a lineup and people camping out. We know Ann Arbor had people camping out for four days.
"We're not going to do that. I think this is going to work out better."
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