When Harrison Township votes on its medical marijuana ordinance next month, there is expected to be little opposition to the plan to allow a couple of dozen cannabis businesses into the Macomb County community.
“At last check, we had 18 legitimate grow operations in the community. At a minimum, if there is an existing business, why would we tell the owner, 'You have to evict your tenant?'” said township Supervisor Ken Verkest. “This is a great source of revenue for us. Whether you like it or not, it’s coming. Isn’t it better to eliminate these black market, cash-only guys?”
It's a different story in Oakland County’s Oakland Township, where township Supervisor Dale Stuart says medical marijuana businesses will never be welcome.
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“We have limited business space in Oakland Township. We’re primarily a residential community,” he said. “This community has no interest in having marijuana dispensaries.”
Since the state Legislature passed bills last year to regulate and tax medical marijuana, communities have been grappling with whether they want the cannabis businesses in their towns.
The state, which is expected to begin awarding licenses to the lucrative medical marijuana businesses next spring, won’t put a limit on the number of licenses that are available or handed out to entrepreneurs and businesses.
So that leaves it up to cities, villages and townships in Michigan, which are authorized to allow or prohibit medical marijuana businesses, to determine how much medical cannabis there will be in the state.
Top image: iQoncept | Adobe Stock
