By Richard Clement - Marijuana Policy Analyst
At the 46th Annual Hash
Bash in Ann Arbor, industry leaders, students, and politicians met to share the
moment and discuss strategies to manage the re-legalization of Marijuana in
Michigan. On December 20th,
2017 Gov. Snyder signed into law sweeping legislation to allow local units of
government to regulate and tax Marijuana businesses in the State. Under the new law, Cities and Townships can
design local ordinances that can limit the number of facilities within
their boundaries. County Governments stand to make the most gains with a 35%
cut of all revenues going toward their budgets.
 |
Richard "Free The Weed" Clement
Joe White - MI NORML,
Former St. Rep Jeff Irwin(D) Ann Arbor |
As it stands now, the current
Marijuana Ordinance in the City of Detroit has been applied in such a manner as
to allow unscrupulous activity such as people starting up Day Care Centers to
prevent the opening of a facility. Another example in Northwest Detroit is using
a mothballed City Parks and Recreation center as a Drug Free Zone instead of a
recreation center for seniors and Children to shut down another facility. The current Detroit Marijuana Ordinance has
allowed this type of behavior to flourish. The current City ordinance must be
modified by an agreement with all of the people to stop and control this type
of conduct.
Yes there needs to be regulation for
Marijuana businesses in Cities and Townships.
This August and November, citizens have an opportunity to enact sensible
cannabis laws that reflect the will of all of the people by ballot vote. Petition Initiatives that will have sensible
variance requirements that are in line with any other business in a City. New ordinance language will keep businesses
1000 feet from a school and removes the strict restrictions on Churches.
Some congregations do not mind having a
business next to them and, resent that their place of worship is aiding and
abetting unethical behavior between business owners. Customers are upset that
certain pastors who are in front of the line wanting to shut down Marijuana
businesses, are in front of the line complaining when they are asked by their government to
pay for their impervious water bills. Customers are enraged that people who do
not live within 300 feet of the business come to Zoning Board Hearings to object
to their business location, take precedent over the people who live there by
law.
People’s attitudes are changing
toward Marijuana because they have finally realized that the War on Drugs is a
stupid war based on racism and mis-information. It is getting close to 100
years since Harry Ainslinger and J Edgar Hoover made arresting people of color
for Marijuana a ritual of passage.
The time now for the City of
Detroit law department to place an immediate moratorium on shutting down businesses in
Detroit until, the citizens can vote on an ordinance on licensing and zoning that
is acceptable to a majority of the people. The collection of 5000 signatures for a ballot
initiative will signal to the City Law Departments to cease the closure of
these businesses until the people decide the issue with their vote.
