By Richard C. Clement - Marijuana
Policy Analyst
and Legislative Aide to
Councilmember Pro-Tem George Cushingberry Jr.
We want to thank the City of Detroit Corporation Council, Legislative Service Bureau, and the staff of Building Safety Environmental Engineering for the
detailed summary report of the status of Medical Marijuana businesses in
the City of Detroit. As of October 25, 2016 there was a reported 279 alleged
locations in the City with 150 places remaining open and 133 that what went out
of business. There were 117 closure notices sent with 55 being shut down
by BSEED. Currently, there are 263 active applications for a Conditional
Use Permit from the City of Detroit. Only one application was approved for a
permit to apply for a license to do business. The remaining businesses are in
various stages of the process from Drug-Free zone exemptions, incomplete site
plans, and hearings.
Number of Conditional Use Applications for Medical Marijuana
Facilities.
Number
of Conditional Use Applications
|
263
|
Drug
Free Zone Ineligible
|
109
|
Drug
Free Zone Appeal requests
|
60
|
Number
of Grants Approved
|
43
|
Applications
Submitted for a Permit
|
2
|
Permits
Issued
|
1
|
Licenses
Applied for and Issued
|
0
|
This anti-weed effort of a few has
forced the City and the County to update the database of information on each
parcel of land in the City of Detroit. On December 20th, 2016 new laws take
effect regarding the manufacture, use, sale, transfer, and distribution of
marijuana in the State of Michigan. On January 20th, we hope that the
will of the people be maintained throughout the process with the
election of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States.
If there was ever a time for the respect of States Rights, the time is
now! Federal, State, and Local elected officials must respect the will of
the people of 25 states who said yes to weed.
City of Detroit Medical Marijuana Link www.detroitmi.gov/MedicalMarihuana
Judges must advise potential jurors
of the right of Jury Nullification because of the changing attitudes toward
marijuana as a nation. Anyone selected for a jury can find a defendant
not-guilty despite the instructions from a judge. Jury Nullification will
communicate the outrage from citizens to prosecutors so that arrests for
Marijuana possession will stop being prosecuted because it will be a waste of
time and taxpayer money on a war on weed and, for-profit prisons.
We hope that self-policing in the
marijuana industry with industry groups like Michigan Cannabis
Development Association, Sons of Hemp, MI Medical Marijuana Association,
and other cana-interest groups can keep the business in Michigan scandal
free with equal opportunity to make it or fail, and attain capital like a
neighborhood rec center, and a be a part of the growing agri-business that can
re-invest the dividends back into the community.
Related Interest Groups and Information:
 |
| State of Michigan Medical Marijuana Laws Implementation Plan 2016 |
|
|
We must improve
our weaknesses and shore up our strengths to make Cannabis
lose the boogey man status from the racist dogma of the late Harry
Anslinger and J. Edgar Hoover. With a top to bottom legislative revamping of
the zoning procedures, our city will be getting a new source of revenue
along with other municipalities in Michigan. The new state law will allow the
City to opt-in to the State Law and allow the citizens to design a new
ordinance through the ballot initiative process and a vote of the people.
Then and only then, citizens on both sides of the spectrum can vote for a
fair and equitable solution to the Marijuana question for the City of Detroit,
Wayne County, and the State of Michigan.
The job
growth opportunities in manufacturing, transportation, and
agriculture will be endless from the act signed into law. All
Firefighters in the State of Michigan will now be able to benefit from the
use of marijuana for ailments like PTSD, Cancer, Stress, and other hazards of
the job. 30% of proceeds from weed will go to Firefighters, 35% to
counties, 25% to Cities and Townships and 10% to the State Police.
This action would dictate that employers public and private quit testing
for it in pre-employment and accident investigations. Finally public employees like
Firefighters, Police Officers, and Teachers will not lose their job if they get
in an accident at work.
Like the entertainment industry, the
revenue generated from occupied buildings could do nothing but help the
community rebuild Schools and Neighborhood Recreation Centers like Johnson
Center in Northwest Detroit. It may even help church congregations of all
denominations in various endeavors like treating heroin addicts by clergy with
open minds. Not all clergy members are against Marijuana because there are some
pastors who want to have a grow IN THEIR CHURCHES for their congregation to use
for things like the building fund and neighborhood outreach.
As of this article writing, the software
needed to make the license for an applicant is not operational on a local or
State level. It is an abhorrent slap in the face to every Information
Technology professional in the world for a government agency that cannot process online
applications eight years after running one of the most profitable programs in
the State of Michigan. Whereas The City of Detroit can print information
ID Cards for our guest citizens with their picture and information on it and
take weed applications online at the same time.
We are strongly encouraging the
State of Michigan to match the work that the professionals in Information
Technology at the City of Detroit have demonstrated. The State of the Bud
in Michigan remains strong and optimistic that our elected officials respect
the will of the people instead of the thrill of a few in elected positions who
want to use a lame duck excuse for their own special interests.
