by Richard C. Clement
The 6 to 1 vote by the body of the Detroit City Council to
approve Ordinance #61 for Marijuana Management and regulation in is a good start to
work from. With modifications and input from the citizens of Detroit this
Ordinance can be modified, re-codified to everyone’s satisfaction before March
of 2016.
The good news first is that everyone agrees about the need
to be licensed with the City as a business.
Without taxing the churches, a license fee amount agreed
upon by all would bring significant revenue to the City’s coffers to be
re-distributed to quality of life issues like park maintenance, road repair,
recreation centers for children and seniors, etc. A percentage of that revenue would go for the
management of the industry with a new Department of Cannabis at City Hall.
This department would consist of a few administrators and representatives
from Building Safety, Fire Marshall, and Treasury that would be responsible for
the establishment, management, and quality of Marijuana used in the City of
Detroit.
Other issues can be resolved by adhering to the following
steps.
- If you support the efforts of my friend and esteemed Pastor Marvin Winans, then you should google search the following topics, Harry Ainslinger, Michelle Alexander, Hemp Concrete, and have him meet me at Miles Green Acers Compassion Center at an agreed time and date. Then have Brother Marvin make an appointment at (313) 224-4535 to see me in the office so we can talk about a solution about (but not limited to) weed, blight, and other things to make this city right.
- Skip to Step 7 otherwise proceed to Step 3
- If you are or planning to be a cannabis business owner, it is strongly recommended that you “know the neighborhood”. If you the owner or your landlord establishes a good relationship with your neighbors, then everything will be fine. Issues like parking, security, and operational hours are things to consider when moving into a new building. If the neighbors (including religious institutions) within the proximity of the business approve of your location, then you may be granted a waiver to remain at the location by the Board of Zoning Appeals.
- Skip to Step 7 otherwise proceed to Step 5
- Upon presentation of signatures from 5000 registered electors in the City of Detroit, the citizens will direct City Clerk Janice Winfrey to place Ordinance #61 to a referendum up or down vote of the people. This vote is required to be held at the next regularly scheduled election in 2016. (August or November) During this time, the ordinance is suspended and cannot be enforced.
- Detroit voters have the opportunity to implement language that would be acceptable to all stakeholders, addressing issues like zoning regulations and yearly license fee amounts as an ordinance with 5000 valid signatures from registered electors who live IN the City of Detroit through the ballot initiative process.
- End process.
When it is all said and done all interested stakeholders
like native and longtime residents of Detroit will have a say in the direction
of the future of Detroit. Otherwise, we
want to thank Councilmember James Tate of District 1 for stirring up the "pot". He was recently selected as the keynote
speaker at the Founders Day Luncheon by Detroit Alumni Chapter of Alabama State University on February 21st, 2015 at 11:00am at DeCarlos Hall and Banquet Center.
Tickets are $40 each and can be picked up in Councilmember Pro Tem Cushingberry’s
office.
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| Working for Weed Peace in Detroit |
We hope to see supporters of higher education, and friends of
Councilmember Tate like my friend and colleague Pastor Marvin Winans come to
our event. Friends and colleagues of Richard Clement are welcome to attend also.
Please call (313) 224-4535 or email clementr@detroitmi.gov if you are interested in attending with the proceeds
going toward needy students attending Alabama State University.
Have a Safe and Happy Holiday* and we want to see you all in 2016!
Where Holiday* = Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Your Personal
Birthday, New Years,etc
Marijuana Policy Analyst
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