Commission Discusses Moratorium On Recreational Marijuana Businesses

bhcityhall2-19
bhcityhall2-19

Benton Harbor City Commissioners are looking to establish some rules for recreational marijuana businesses when they begin operating in Michigan. At a Monday meeting, commissioners considered a resolution that would have prohibited recreational marijuana businesses in town until the city can get zoning rules in place. City attorney Richard Racht said as the state deadline approaches for prospective recreational marijuana businesses to put in applications, the city needs to take action.

“Right now, almost 900 Michigan municipalities have opted out, and there has been a lot of public outcry from some of those municipalities, but I think those municipalities have been opting out to allow their municipality to create these regulations,” Racht said.

Racht said not opting out of the recreational marijuana businesses could open the floodgates when the state starts taking applications, and that the city could opt back in once it has some rules in place for them. Commissioner CF Jones said such a move would be a preventive measure.

“To me, it makes perfect sense. I had to get a jump on it a little while ago, that we need to go ahead and vote on this, get it out of the way. It keeps pop-up businesses from showing up.”

However, there was some confusion about exactly when the state will start accepting applications for recreational marijuana businesses. The attorney said he thought it was October 1, but others said the correct date is November 1. WSJM News has been told by LARA that it is November 1. In the end, the city commission tabled the matter so it can get further discussion at a committee meeting.