Cannabis Conference Highlights Re-Investment Opportunities Into Local Units Governments

By Richard C. Clement - Marijuana Policy Analyst

On Sunday July 9^th, 2017 a captive audience at the Southeast Michigan Cannabis Business Development Conference listened to guest speakers with Council President Pro Tempore George Cushingberry Jr. giving the keynote address to attendees at the Atheneum Hotel in Detroit Michigan.  The staff at the hotel provided stellar service to guests and are to be totally commended for their professionalism.

Attendees listened to experts in Finance, Legal, Agriculture, and Government affairs.  Former Fox TV anchor Aqunette Jaimison , State of Michigan LARA Director Shelly Edgerton, Women Grow also provided insight from a different perspective. The conference finished up with a minority inclusion panel that highlighted the opportunity and the barriers encountered within the industry.

Anquinette Jamison

On November 7^th, 2017 there will be two proposals on the ballot to allow the City of Detroit to opt into the new State Of Michigan regulations for the Marijuana Industry by ballot initiative. The proposals will address the zoning and licensing rules business who want to locate in Detroit. 

The new ordinance will remove liquor stores, and reduces distances from a valid church to 500 ft unless you get a waiver from the pastor. There are some denominations such as the Rastafarians that may qualify for a waiver because Cannabis is a documented sacred plant in their religious practice. There are other pastors who are tolerant and want you to help in the community in some way. 

A valid church is defined as an entity that filed proper paperwork with the City and County officials. Drug Free Zone enforcement will only apply to educational institutions. 

The enforcement of the current Marijuana Ordinance has cost the City Of Detroit $1 million dollars in revenue and, the change can’t come soon enough.  When the ordinance gets passed, city residents will have a voice in the reinvestment of revenue from the Marijuana industry.  Recreation Centers can be rebuilt and redesigned for neighborhood use by children and senior citizens alike.The new ordinance will generate at least $2 million dollars a year in revenue from job growth in green industries.

On the State Level, LARA Director Edgerton explained to conference attendees that a system will be up and running to issue licenses by December 15^th, 2017.  This will include placing the picture from your Driver’s license or Personal ID in the space provided on the current Michigan Medical Marijuana Card. To make this happen, Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson must work with Information Technology professionals instead of the Attorneys in the Attorney General's office. This change has been long overdue and another example of the wall being torn down between State Departments and technology.

In November of 2018 the Coalition To Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol www.regulatemi.org  will have on the ballot a voter initiative to regulate and tax retail sales of Cannabis. With a massive overhaul of the Liquor Commission and a new Governor,  you will be able partake in areas such as bars, restaurants, and smoking areas in sports stadiums with the owners permission.  One of the hidden benefits of the law for restaurant owners is that food sales will increase by at least 10% to 15%.

Make sure you go to the Polls in August and November and Vote 

Progress on The Avenue, New Business In District 2 - Questions and Solutions

By Richard C. Clement

With the addition of the Bucharest Grill on the Livernois Avenue of Fashion, parking has become an extreme priority. To solve that problem a building or two can be removed, including the median in the middle of the road.  What are your thoughts on a pilot project to allow for parking in the middle of Livernois with a bike lane protected with a smaller median? 

The next issue is traffic enforcement to control the speeding and parking violations.  What are your thoughts on installing traffic strips connected to a camera to control the excessive speeding?  

The camera would photograph licenses plates of offending vehicles for processing by the law.  The tactical use of technology would accomplish the goals of controlling excessive speeding, increase parking spaces, and generate foot traffic while revitalizing empty buildings at the same time.

If you are interested in doing something like this for the Livernois Avenue Of Fashion, please contact Council President Brenda Jones At Large, City Councilmember Janee Ayers At Large, and Council President Pro Tem George Cushingberry Jr District 2. The first three votes are very crucial to the cause of improving the quality of life of the neighborhoods.  

With two or more additional Councilmembers supporting this effort, this project would be given a chance to address the needs of the business owners and the surrounding community.  

Please contact a Detroit City Councilmember at www.detroitmi.gov/Government/City-Council by voice, email, and In-Person on this important matter.

A Nov 8th, 2017 Marijuana Petition Ballot Drive Is Underway In Detroit

By Richard C. Clement - Marijuana Policy Analyst


With the new state law regarding Medical Marijuana allowing local units of government to regulate businesses within their borders, local Ordinances regulating these businesses have to be redesigned. Currently, there are 4 Petitions circulating by two user organizations that will accomplish this task. The Citizens for Sensible Cannabis Reform and The Sons of Hemp (Website: www.sonsofhemp.org) have undertaken the challenge.

Richard Clement
Marijuana Policy Analyst
City of Detroit

All signatures on petitions need to be gathered by June 15, 2017. At least 5000 valid voter signatures are required on petitions submitted to the Detroit City Clerk’s office. For the four petitions listed above, signatures must be of voters who live IN the City of Detroit. When the signatures are certified by the City Clerk, these petitions will be given letter designations and, appear on the November 8^th, 2017 ballot to be voted on.

•           Petition 1 is to repeal the current ordinance outright
•         Petition 2 is to redesign the Licensing Ordinance
•         Petition 3 is to redesign the Zoning Ordinance
•        Petition 4 is to redesign the Licensing Ordinance with residency requirements

Petitions 2 through 4 will accomplish the same basic goal of removing liquor stores, parks, and reducing the distance between valid churches to 500ft. These proposals will open up more areas by giving the Board of Zoning Appeals wide deference to approve qualifying business.  Testimony from residents will be limited to people who live within 300ft of the proposed new business. Closed schools will not count in the Drug Free Zones along with Day Care Centers that don’t exist.  Waivers may be granted if the property owners grant their approval such as a Pastor or,  Day Care Center owner. 

Petitions 1, 2, and 3 are sponsored by the Citizens for Sensible Cannabis Reform, Petition 4 is sponsored by the Sons of Hemp, a group of African American Marijuana Business owners who has language modeled after the proposal in Oakland California that required 51% ownership by Detroit residents. The overall goal of all of these efforts is to improve the quality of life at the local level. For instance neighborhoods using revenue from retail sales can re-open Recreation Centers and Schools in the City of Detroit.

The people have spoken loud and clear on Marijuana with their vote many times. Look for a petition to sign at your local place of business for these local petitions and, the statewide initiative to regulate Marijuana like Alcohol to be placed on the November 2018 General Election.

Business owners reading this article are strongly encouraged to list your place of business as a petition signing center in the comments section.

So take the time to sign Petitions A, B, C, and D.  

Whatever it takes to keep the Weed Free.

   

2017 Street Repair Schedule in District 2 - Improving Neighborhoods For Me And You

By Richard C. Clement - Legislative Aide to George Cushingberry Jr.

      Council President Pro Tem George Cushingberry Jr. is proud to present the following list of repairs scheduled for streets in District 2, as a part of a 63 million dollar improvement plan in 2017.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Department Of Public Works Street Maintenance at (313) 224-0033 or, go to their website.

http://www.detroitmi.gov/Government/Departments-and-Agencies/Public-Works/Contact-us

Department of Recreation and Riverside Park Redevelopment

STREET	FROM	TO
Ardmore	Curtis	John C. Lodge
Baylis	Fenkell	J.C. Lodge
Belden	Puritan	Lodge
Chippewa	Meyers	Appoline
Clarita	Winthrop	Greenfield
Dexter	Fenkell	Puritan
Fairfield	Seven Mile	Curtis
Grand	Linwood	Wildermere
Greenlawn	W. McNichols	Puritan
Hubbell	Eight Mile	Curtis
Hubbell	Jeffries Fwy	Grand River
James Couzens N/B s/d	Six Mile (McNichols)	Audrey
John C Lodge N/B s/d	50' W of Monica	Ohio
John C. Lodge N/B s/d	Schaefer	Audrey
John C. Lodge S/B s/d	Wyoming	Monica
Kendall	Ewald Circle	Wildermere
Manor	Curtis	Margareta
Mansfield	W. Outer Drive	Santa Maria
Margareta	Rutherford	Mansfield
Mendota	Santa Maria	Curtis
Merrill Plaisance	Woodward	Pontchartrain
Pickford	Greenfield	Prest
Pontchartrain	Merrill Plaisance	7 Mile Rd.
Puritan	Livernois	Belden
Santa Clara	Wyoming	Pinehurst
Sorrento	W. McNichols	James Couzens
St. Martins	Schaefer	Lesure
Stoepel	W. McNichols	Thatcher
Ward	W. McNichols	James Couzens
Whitcomb	Vassar	Pembroke
Wildemere	Puritan	J.C. Lodge
Woodingham	W. McNichols	Puritan

2017 City Council Candidate Review For District 2 - Truth to Power and Experience

By The Friends Of George Cushingberry Jr.

Source: Independent Street Research Group

After independent review of the candidates credentials and performace at a recent candidates forum, these are the findings of the group. The debate was sponsored by the United Precinct Delegates of Detroit and Michigan. These are bare bones results given to each candidate running for the District 2 seat on Detroit City Council.

   

Candidate Name	Experience
Linda D. Bernard	Inexperienced
George Cushingberry	Respected by his colleagues, George Cushingberry has a long history and track record of serving the people’s interests and getting things done. George Cushingberry has deep roots and committed to education with a campaign of financial, legal and spiritual literacy. His specialty is finance, budget management, and oversight. He is very adamant about this and has called out many a department for not having their papers in order. He also compliments departments and businesses that practice transparency in financial management policies. Frequently visits K-!2 schools reading to children and donated his City Issued Vehicle to the Police Department for their use.   The plan is on track to remove State of Michigan oversight and reverse the damage of Emergency Management in City Government. Cushingberry is a consultant to the Detroit Public School District School Board to move Davis Aerospace back to airport grounds, reversing a horrendous decision of Emergency Roy Roberts to strip certifications and the attempt to dissolve the Tuskegee Airmen program. Mr. Cushingberry is responsible for the upgrade and overhaul of City Technology. Departments that were running Windows 3.1 and software for the Fire Department was drastically overhauled with the help of fellow councilmembers and the Information Technology staff under the leadership of Chief Information Officer Beth Niblock. Mr. Cushingberry is a strong advocate for the Department of Recreation regarding the future of the City with recreation centers. He is currently listening and working with ALL stakeholders to develop a fair and inclusive Marijuana Ordinance that will serve the needs of the people and benefit the entire community. The new marijuana ordinance will be in compliance with State law.  The ordinance seeks to address concern of residents that the Marijuana Industry be more than just be a bunch of African American consumers with no reinvestment back into the community. Statewide effects of a local ordinance will allow agriculturalists to grow and manufacture products ranging from home construction materials, road concrete, and other products made from the male plant. Four years ago, certain news media outlets lambasted the choice of Brenda Jones as Council President and George Cushingberry Jr as President Pro Tempore. Four years later, these people were completely wrong. So much has been accomplished and the oversight to keep things right are in place.  Now is not the time to experiment with others who talk the talk and get exposed during the walk. After further review of the facts, Jones and Cush, have led the push, for a better and brighter Detroit. On or Before August 8th cast your vote for the best candidate! George Cushingberry Jr.  Detroit City Council District 2.
Roy McCalister	Inexperienced
Helena Scott	Inexperienced
Virgil Smith	Endorsed and Supported by American Conservative Union for his service as a State Senator in 2015 for voting YES on: Fracking in neighborhoods (SB 591), weakening teachers unions with substitute teachers, and supporting the revocation of prevailing wage laws for workers (HB 4163, Senate Bills 3, 491, and 571) in the 2015 legislative session. Irresponsible and cannot be trusted Source Website American Conservative Union
Tyra Dear Williams	Inexperienced

2017 Endorsement News For George Cushingberry Jr. - Press Relase

By The Friends Of George Cushingberry Jr.

George Cushingberry Jr. welcomes the support of the following organizations for his re-election to the Detroit City Council in District 2. We appreciate the work they do very much.  

Michigan Regional Council of Millwrights and Carpenters  

www.hammer9.com

Local 24 Hospitality Workers Union

www.local24unitehere.org

Laborers Local 1199 

www.laborerslocal1191.org

13th District Congressional Democrats

Wayne County Democratic Black Caucus

Metro Detroit AFL-CIO

www.metrodaflcio.org

The Black Slate of Detroit (Facebook Page)

UAW Region 1A 

www.region1a.uaw.org

Teamsters Joint Council #43
www.teamstersjointcouncil43.com

Fannie Lou Hammer PAC

WWW.FLHPAC.ORG

www.miafscme.org

'

www.michronicleonline.com

Virgie Rollins
14th Congressional District

We are thankful for the support in removing Virgil Smith from being endorsed as the candidate over George Cushingberry Jr. for Detroit Council District 2 by the 14^th Congressional District. While we do support felons getting jobs and getting first, second, third, and fourth chances, this is not the job for him.

We are on a path to undo the damage of Emergency Managers and State Supervision of our city. Neighborhoods are composed of a community of schools and recreation centers that serve children and senior citizens.  Experience and knowledge is a crucial element in leadership and for the Detroit City Council, George Cushingberry has been a team player and catalyst for change.

We cannot afford to go back to the days electing carnival barkers and puppets manipulated by State and Federal legislators who don’t give a damn about our city. Doing this would be a fatal mistake if you do not re-elect George Cushingberry. He has demonstrated that he will fight for the people through measured protocol and tactical implementation of plans. Some of the overt examples of what has been done already are Recreation Centers and City Airport expansion.

Join us as we reflect 50 years after the Detroit Riots on the Livernois Avenue of Fashion by attending one or more of our events listed on our website starting June 1^st

If you would like to support the Re-Election of Councilmember Pro Tempore George Cushingberry Jr. with an endorsement, please visit our website at www.cushforcitycouncil.com  and click on the Endorsement page link. 

Native Detroit Marijuana Business Owners File Federal Lawsuit For Inclusion

By Richard C. Clement - Marijuana Policy Analyst

The Sons of Hemp, an African American group of Marijuana Business Owners has re-filed a Federal three count lawsuit against the City of Detroit regarding the uneven enforcement of the Detroit Marijuana Zoning Ordinance and the impact upon native Detroiters owning businesses.  

The 3 counts are as follows:  

Count 1 – Racketeering under existing RICO laws

Count 2 – Selective Enforcement with Bias based on Race

Count 3 – Due process 

The larger picture is the structure of the ordinance as written. Bizarre interpretations of rules based on religion for example, are in conflict with the 1st Amendment and given too much leeway in decision making by the Board of Zoning Appeals. There are some religious institutions owned by the Detroit Land Bank that are given preference over Marijuana Care centers even though the church itself has done absolutely nothing for the community.

 

Detroit at Night

For any other business in Detroit, people who live within 300ft of a proposed property have the legal right to file a letter of objection or support. For marijuana businesses testimony is being taken from people who live as far as 10 miles away from the distance of the facility and, their objections are given favor over people who live within the 300ft distance.

There is also empirical evidence showing that there are outside interests from other states and countries paying off elected officials and neighborhood groups to create an artificial cap on the number of facilities they want to see in the Detroit area. 

Another glaring example of racism in the marijuana industry was the drive through service provided by Natures Choice on Grand River Avenue. They were forced to shut down while, Caucasian owned business in Colorado claim to be the first drive through dispensary in the United States of America as reported by NBC News. With US Attorney General Jeff "KKK" Sessions in charge, the days of shooting people for pot may return soon, just like Tom and Rollie at the Rainbow Farms camp in 2001.  The new face of prohibition wants to return to the good old days of mandatory minimums, and filling the jails with non-violent pot users again. 

Website: Rainbow Farms Memorial - Vandalia MI 

Website: 2012 Detroit Proposal M - Marijuana Decrim  Yes 65%   No 35%

Case Informaition

US District Court Judge Avery Cohen 

United States District Court

Eastern District of Michigan

Case# 2:17-CV-11093

Sons of Hemp v City Of Detroit