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Winfred Blackmon MCDA
Weed Jihadist |
After
further review of public hearings at Board of Zoning Appeals the Detroit Marijuana
Zoning ordinance needs to be drastically overhauled. All during the process of
drafting the ordinance, public input was ignored. The Board of Zoning Appeals
members have no flexibility to grant waivers based on common sense
situations. In some cases denials have
been granted even though the religious institution does not exist or, an old
liquor license has not been used in years.
For instance on 8 mile Road, the mothballed Johnson Recreation Center
was used to shut down a compassion center because it was “too close to a drug
free zone”. The back story is that the city is putting the property up for sale
even though the neighborhood has been demanding that the center be reopened or
reconstructed.
Other examples are some owners purchasing property close
enough to a proposed facility so that it does not open. The opposition from the community groups are
sponsored by some marijuana business owners who are using the evangelical
community to promote fake outrage even though their numbers are small. Some of the people who attend the churches
are customers of the compassion centers and, if a pastor can sell water at
$5.00 a bottle, then Marijuana at $10.00 a gram is good too. After all the
Water and Weed come from the same manufacturer.
A new ordinance drafted and voted on by the people would
address working hours and, other issues like drive through service. Another
option is that City Attorney Butch Hollowell would choose to opt into the State
Law and save the taxpayers major money in legal fees. Either way, the people have the final say
with their vote and that is the way it should go. The proposed language below would go into
effect when a referendum petition is signed by the electors who are registered
voters in the City of Detroit.
Example Repeal Ordinance Language:
Initiative to Repeal Detroit Zoning
Ordinance Section(s) 24-13-1 through 24-13-30, 61, Articles XIII, 61-3-353 and
61-3-354 Definitions; Licensing, Conditional Uses; Procedures; Waivers and
Public Nuisance. We the undersigned electors want these
sections of the Detroit Marijuana Zoning Ordinance repealed and redesigned in
the Detroit City Charter. This ordinance
gives too much weight to empty churches, non-existent liquor stores and,
discriminates on the basis of religion by violating the 1st
Amendment rights regarding the freedom to worship or not to worship. This
ordinance encourages shady business practices by competitors to purchase and
squat on property for the purpose of preventing a business from opening. The undersigned electors demand the immediate suspension
of this ordinance and, the right to vote YES or NO in the next general election
on August 8th,
2017.
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| Area 51 - Compassion Center |
5000 valid voter signatures are needed by March 21st,
2017 to place this issue on the ballot. Therefore if you are legal professional interested
in pursuing this option, please contact me at the office with a valid
petition. Then ask your elected
officials to allow you to vote on a new ordinance that will be reflective of
the will of the people, instead of the wishes of a few.
