LANSING, MI — Municipalities across Michigan on Tuesday, Nov. 5, are expected to vote on whether to ban, allow or limit recreational marijuana business within their borders.
Michigan voters in November 2018, by a 56%-44% margin, voted in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana possession, personal use and businesses, such as retail stores, growers, testing facilities, transportation and processing operations.
While municipalities cannot limit individual use regarding the provisions in the law, including the ability to possess up to 10 ounces on their person and grow up to 12 plants, they are allowed to limit or ban commercial businesses within their community.
As of Friday, Nov. 1, more than 1,300 communities statewide had instituted bans on recreational business. Voter-led initiatives are attempting to overturn those bans, initiate new bans or create guidelines for allowing recreational business.
The law “allows all townships to initiate a petition drive related to adult-use cannabis proposals,” said Rick Thompson, a board member of Michigan’s National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). “Nearly all townships are prevented from doing so under normal circumstances …
“This was added to allow for citizens to have an unprecedented ability to express their will through the petitioning process.”
Michigan Cannabis Industry Association Director Robin Schneider said she expects to see voter-led marijuana-related initiatives on ballots over the next several years while the industry becomes established throughout the state.
The state Marijuana Regulatory Agency, created under Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, began accepting applications for prospective recreational marijuana businesses on Friday.
According to the Bureau of Elections, there are 10 marijuana-related ballot initiatives that will be voted on at the polls Tuesday, Nov. 5.
They include:
Allen Park, Wayne County: proposal to allow up to three micro-businesses, three retailers and temporary events. It allows the city to create a license fee up to $5,000 and establishes violations as civil infractions with fines up to $500.
Crystal Township, Montcalm County: proposal to ban all recreational marijuana businesses.
Hudson City, Lenawee County: proposal to allow and limit recreational marijuana businesses, including three testing facilities, three transporters, three micro-businesses, three retailers, five processors and 15 growers, five each from the three grower types allowed 100,1,000 or 1,5000 plants, respectively.
Keego Harbor, Oakland County: proposal to allow the future establishment of ordinances that limit but allow marijuana businesses. Keego Harbor City Council voted to ban recreational marijuana business in August. The ballot issue, if passed, would override the ban.
Lincoln Park, Wayne County: proposal to allow and limit recreational marijuana business, including two retailers and one of each other recreational business types.
Marenisco Township, Gogebic County: proposal to repeal a township ordinance that allows recreational marijuana business to operate in the township.
Mount Pleasant, Isabella County: proposal to allow recreational marijuana businesses, including five retailers and an unlimited number of growers, processing facilities, transporters, micro-businesses and marijuana consumption businesses. The proposal eliminates the requirement that any business be located at least 1,000 fee from a school.
Northfield Township, Washtenaw County: proposal to ban all recreational marijuana business.
South Haven, Van Buren County: proposal to ban all recreational marijuana business.
Walled Lake, Oakland County: proposal would allow for recreational marijuana business in accordance with yet-to-be-created ordinances.
— Gus Burns is the marijuana beat reporter for MLive. Contact him with questions, tips or comments at fburns@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter, @GusBurns. Read more from MLive about medical and recreational marijuana.
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