Grand Rapids City Commission Adopts New Cannabis Ordinance
[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]M[/dropcap]ichigan’s Grand Rapids City Commission voted 6-0 on July 24 to adopt an ordinance that will allow medical cannabis facilities to begin opening later this year.
The ordinance is the middle ground between the city staff’s original plan, which allowed 41 potential locations and the planning commission’s recommendation, which would have allowed for up to 143 provision centers and 293 potential other facilities. The revised ordinance is allowing up to 53 dispensaries and up to 83 other facilities, including growers, processors, secure transports and safety compliance offices.
Restrictions listed in the ordinance include facilities maintaining at least 1,000 feet from schools, child care centers, parks, playgrounds, places of worship, substance abuse clinics, rehabilitation facilities and residential zone districts. Dispensaries cannot be within 2,000 feet of another dispensary. The summary of these changes allows the city commission to amend the rules later on, creating a safety net in preparation for the future.
In regards to the city commission’s current final decision, Commissioner Senita Lenear thinks it’s a balanced compromise. “I think this is the best that we can do trying to take all perspectives into consideration,” she said. “I appreciated where we are today.” Commissioner Jon O’Connor is also positive about the city’s current position. “This ordinance puts us in a good position if recreational marijuana is passed by state voters this fall and gives local players the best opportunity to get into the business,” he added.
Additional amendments to the ordinance included a $5,000 annual fee, a voluntary equitable development agreement and the removal of language that refers to medical cannabis as having “serious objectionable characteristics.”
The ordinance also calls for a plan for the facility to integrate crime prevention and awareness training, litter and loitering control, among other requirements. Although Grand Rapids has taken a small step toward cannabis, the entire state as a whole will be making an even bigger step when recreational cannabis is on the ballot this November.
