A Critical Juncture

Companies that are willing to take the plunge are investing in decrepit warehouses, former prisons and factories and converting them into money-making commercial cannabis facilities that help create jobs for working class communities. In fact, a Clawson-based company is considering investing $21 million to purchase and convert an old unused factory in Bangor Charter Township into a state-of-the-art medical cannabis cultivation and distribution facility. The proposition has garnered the enthusiastic support of the Bangor Charter Township Board of Trustees and the Bangor Charter Township Supervisor.

The former Dow Chemical Co. and Crane Resistoflex building has been virtually unused except for storage in Bangor Township. Clawson-based Oasis Wellness Center is interested in investing $21 million toward converting the 320,000 square-foot building into a major grow operation. Attorney Paul D. Weisberger is Vice President and in-house counsel for the Oasis Wellness Center, which is not currently in the medical cannabis industry. The Oasis Wellness Center has common ownership of Wild Bills Tobacco, which is the largest tobacco store chain in Michigan, with 65 locations. The Oasis Wellness Center operates dozens of Wild Bills locations, but is excited to enter the cannabis sector and give back to the communities in Michigan as well.

“We’re proposing to do what would be multiple state license grows, and we’re projecting that [$21 million] is what we would anticipate spending.”

“We’re proposing to do what would be multiple state license grows, and we’re projecting that [$21 million] is what we would anticipate spending,” Weisberger told CULTURE. “That does not take into account any benefits from sales tax or the excise tax that’s paid to the state. Some of that would come back to the communities. That just deals with the investment that we’d have in the actual structure along with the job creation—somewhere between 100 and 120 jobs total.” Weisberger supported House Bill 4209 and 4210, which built upon the Michigan Medical Marihuana Initiative that was approved in 2008.

Bangor Charter Township Supervisor Glenn Rowley supports the idea, given the economic turnaround that other small communities have experienced because of embracing commercial cannabis, and on May 9, the Bangor Township Board of Trustees unanimously agreed to support the investment of the grow and distribution facility. Trustees Howard Eagle, Scott Schisler, Rich Phelps and Neil Froncek, all supported the idea as well.

“The township officials are very receptive,” Weisberger stated. “Of course every town has a vocal minority, but I would say that the Supervisor has been very diligent in trying to get the public intake on it. With the people I’ve met, it’s been well-received. Many people in the industry are anxious to talk with me about being employed in the operation.”

According to Bay County election results, in 2008 the residents of Bangor Charter Township voted in favor of medical cannabis 4,678 to 3,454, or 57 percent of local voters and hope to vote on recreational cannabis in the 2018 election cycle. Neighboring Pinconning Township adopted similar cannabis ordinances in order to allow for commercial cannabis entities and investments as well.

The Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act was signed into legislation by Gov. Snyder on September 21, 2016. All local municipalities have until the end of the year on December 15 to approve their own resolution or legislation in order to be eligible to allow cultivation and sales of cannabis. Before anyone can apply for a state license, they must first obtain a local permit.

According to Supervisor Glenn Rowley, before anything could happen, the township would have to update its code of ordinances to allow for cannabis businesses. The state of Michigan would also have to approve the facility. Although the proposed production facility is in the early stages, it could become a lucrative opportunity for Bangor Charter Township.