Ann Arbor may allow marijuana dispensaries to extend hours to midnight

ANN ARBOR, MI — “High, we’re open,” read the sign outside the Herbana marijuana dispensary in Ann Arbor on Monday night.

But the clock was about to strike 9 p.m. and, like other weed shops across Tree Town, the business was about to close for the evening, as required by the city.

Ann Arbor officials are now rethinking the city’s 9 p.m. limit on hours of operations for dispensaries.

A city ordinance change awaiting approval would allow cannabis sales to continue an extra three hours — until midnight.

City Council voted 10-0 to give its initial OK to the ordinance change Monday night, Aug. 21.

It now comes back to council for final approval Sept. 5, when there will be a public hearing.

Since adoption of the city’s marijuana business regulations several years ago, the city has revised them to continue to accommodate the growing industry.

In addition to extending hours of operation, the latest changes would further simplify the permit application process and add a new Class-A micro-business license type, allowing facilities to grow up to 300 cannabis plants (double the current limit) and to purchase marijuana-infused products from processors.

As for the extended hours for dispensaries, there has been interest among marijuana business owners, city staff told council in a memo, saying after discussion with the Ann Arbor Police Department, staff recommends allowing late-night sales.

“Changes have been reviewed by planning and zoning and they have approved the proposed amendments,” the memo states.

While City Council didn’t get into a discussion about it Monday night, some council members posed questions to staff in writing ahead of the meeting.

Council Member Erica Briggs, D-5th Ward, said some residents who live near dispensaries don’t want late-night, in-and-out traffic. She asked staff what factors were considered in recommending extending hours.

Factors that were considered include discussions among city officials about the disparity between alcohol sales being allowed at liquor establishments until 2 a.m., while marijuana dispensaries have had to close at 9 p.m., staff said.

Police had concerns about a potential 2 a.m. closing time because of cash kept at dispensaries and recommended midnight for a trial period to see if there’s an uptick in crime during the extended hours, staff told council, suggesting a later closing time could be allowed if there are no issues.

There are 23 marijuana retailers operating in Ann Arbor, according to the city. Some have been the target of robbery and burglary incidents over the years, including the Bloom City Club dispensary on the edge of the Water Hill neighborhood where three men allegedly robbed the Miller Avenue establishment at gunpoint in the middle of a Sunday afternoon in 2019.

A spokesperson for the police department couldn’t immediately be reached for further comment on the pending ordinance change.

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