Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
The city of Adrian is moving forward to allow and regulate medical marijuana facilities within the community.
At a special meeting Wednesday, the Adrian City Commission by a 5-1 vote approved a regulatory ordinance's language that would permit commercial medical marijuana facilities, including growers, processors, provisioning centers, safety compliance facilities and secure transporters.
There is still a window until June to edit or adjust the ordinance, if needed. Changes coming down from state regulators could cause this to happen.
Wednesday's vote followed a year of debate, research and discussion on the topic at city commission meetings.
The five commissioners who supported moving forward cited compassion for medical marijuana patients, new jobs and blight elimination through new investment as some of the reasons for their support. The one commissioner against, Brad Watson, said he didn't believe the city was fully ready to move forward because there remain questions about exactly how the state will regulate this new industry.
Commissioner Tom Faulhaber said he struggled mightily with the decision and had been, "on the fence" about it. He said he wasn't in favor of recreational use of marijuana. However, he said he has to consider supporting medical marijuana facilities if it means bringing in new jobs and investment.
"It's hard to ignore that," Faulhaber said of potential for the new industry to create $15 to $20 per hour jobs.
Commissioner Lad Strayer said that, regardless whether the new investment creates the number of jobs hoped, he would stand by his decision. He said he did a lot of thinking and research, and it came down to being open-minded about potential benefits from an industry that is legal in Michigan and also being regulated by the state.
He said it was an opportunity for which businesses want to come to Adrian to invest.
"We need to be open-minded to all new opportunities and ideas," Strayer said. "If bringing medical marijuana businesses to Adrian creates jobs, helps clean up blight or helps stimulate our economy in a few years down the road, I'm never going to sit up here and gloat, and say 'I told you so.' On the other hand if medical marijuana fails to stimulate our economy, or bring jobs or clean up the blight, I'm not going to say I'm sorry either because I'm trying to make positive change in Adrian."
Commissioner Allen Heldt echoed Strayer in that he said it's the commission's job to help create jobs and economic growth. However, he also said his decision to support has always been about compassion for those in the community who use and need medical marijuana for serious health issues.
Heldt said he needed to "look out for all residents."
Commissioner John Dudas said he also has gone back and forth on the issue because he understands the concerns some have as to how this might impact the perception of Adrian. However, he said he sees the potential for new jobs and the legitimate medical use for medical marijuana. He also posed the question: Would the city treat and view other industries wanting to come to Adrian to invest the same way it has with this issue?
Dudas said the city needed to set aside any bias against this and look at this potential investment with a fair eye.
Watson, who emphasized he believes in the benefits of medical marijuana, said he viewed this decision like a high school student handing in a major final assignment that would be graded. He said the drafted regulatory ordinance was like the final paper and the zoning ordinance to come was the project.
It should be noted, the zoning ordinance for these facilities is still being put together and is not in final draft form yet.
"The prior commission, the task force, city staff, concerned citizens have put time into preparing drafts of both our paper and our project," Watson said. "We can all agree that we are not on our final drafts and ready to receive our grade that is going to count. And truthfully, we have not even been given our final directions from our teacher, or in our case the state, yet we are ready to take a risk and turn something in? I do not believe so.
"The right thing for us to do is to get our assignment, prepare our paper and project to be the best possible grade; positioning ourselves for outstanding, future success and not just the past."
Mayor Chuck Jacobson said he believes the ordinance puts in place regulations that will address the concerns of some in the community and protect the city while allowing new investment and jobs. He said yearly license review and renewal for these facilities will be one way in which the city will monitor the new businesses. He said there are also steps to penalize the businesses not respecting the ordinance set forth.
He said his support is in part about jobs as well as addressing blighted buildings. He said the city is fielding calls daily from investors wanting to invest millions of dollars to establish medical marijuana facilities in Adrian.
"I think this is a good way for us to tackle blight," Jacobson said. "We're already seeing interest in abandoned buildings and vacant property that have been unused for decades."
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Adrian OKs medical marijuana facilities - News - The Daily Telegram - Adrian, MI - Adrian, MI
Author: Lonnie Huhman
Contact: Contact - Adrian, MI - The Daily Telegram - Adrian, MI
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Website: The Daily Telegram - Adrian, MI: Local & World News, Sports & Entertainment in Adrian, MI
At a special meeting Wednesday, the Adrian City Commission by a 5-1 vote approved a regulatory ordinance's language that would permit commercial medical marijuana facilities, including growers, processors, provisioning centers, safety compliance facilities and secure transporters.
There is still a window until June to edit or adjust the ordinance, if needed. Changes coming down from state regulators could cause this to happen.
Wednesday's vote followed a year of debate, research and discussion on the topic at city commission meetings.
The five commissioners who supported moving forward cited compassion for medical marijuana patients, new jobs and blight elimination through new investment as some of the reasons for their support. The one commissioner against, Brad Watson, said he didn't believe the city was fully ready to move forward because there remain questions about exactly how the state will regulate this new industry.
Commissioner Tom Faulhaber said he struggled mightily with the decision and had been, "on the fence" about it. He said he wasn't in favor of recreational use of marijuana. However, he said he has to consider supporting medical marijuana facilities if it means bringing in new jobs and investment.
"It's hard to ignore that," Faulhaber said of potential for the new industry to create $15 to $20 per hour jobs.
Commissioner Lad Strayer said that, regardless whether the new investment creates the number of jobs hoped, he would stand by his decision. He said he did a lot of thinking and research, and it came down to being open-minded about potential benefits from an industry that is legal in Michigan and also being regulated by the state.
He said it was an opportunity for which businesses want to come to Adrian to invest.
"We need to be open-minded to all new opportunities and ideas," Strayer said. "If bringing medical marijuana businesses to Adrian creates jobs, helps clean up blight or helps stimulate our economy in a few years down the road, I'm never going to sit up here and gloat, and say 'I told you so.' On the other hand if medical marijuana fails to stimulate our economy, or bring jobs or clean up the blight, I'm not going to say I'm sorry either because I'm trying to make positive change in Adrian."
Commissioner Allen Heldt echoed Strayer in that he said it's the commission's job to help create jobs and economic growth. However, he also said his decision to support has always been about compassion for those in the community who use and need medical marijuana for serious health issues.
Heldt said he needed to "look out for all residents."
Commissioner John Dudas said he also has gone back and forth on the issue because he understands the concerns some have as to how this might impact the perception of Adrian. However, he said he sees the potential for new jobs and the legitimate medical use for medical marijuana. He also posed the question: Would the city treat and view other industries wanting to come to Adrian to invest the same way it has with this issue?
Dudas said the city needed to set aside any bias against this and look at this potential investment with a fair eye.
Watson, who emphasized he believes in the benefits of medical marijuana, said he viewed this decision like a high school student handing in a major final assignment that would be graded. He said the drafted regulatory ordinance was like the final paper and the zoning ordinance to come was the project.
It should be noted, the zoning ordinance for these facilities is still being put together and is not in final draft form yet.
"The prior commission, the task force, city staff, concerned citizens have put time into preparing drafts of both our paper and our project," Watson said. "We can all agree that we are not on our final drafts and ready to receive our grade that is going to count. And truthfully, we have not even been given our final directions from our teacher, or in our case the state, yet we are ready to take a risk and turn something in? I do not believe so.
"The right thing for us to do is to get our assignment, prepare our paper and project to be the best possible grade; positioning ourselves for outstanding, future success and not just the past."
Mayor Chuck Jacobson said he believes the ordinance puts in place regulations that will address the concerns of some in the community and protect the city while allowing new investment and jobs. He said yearly license review and renewal for these facilities will be one way in which the city will monitor the new businesses. He said there are also steps to penalize the businesses not respecting the ordinance set forth.
He said his support is in part about jobs as well as addressing blighted buildings. He said the city is fielding calls daily from investors wanting to invest millions of dollars to establish medical marijuana facilities in Adrian.
"I think this is a good way for us to tackle blight," Jacobson said. "We're already seeing interest in abandoned buildings and vacant property that have been unused for decades."
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Adrian OKs medical marijuana facilities - News - The Daily Telegram - Adrian, MI - Adrian, MI
Author: Lonnie Huhman
Contact: Contact - Adrian, MI - The Daily Telegram - Adrian, MI
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Website: The Daily Telegram - Adrian, MI: Local & World News, Sports & Entertainment in Adrian, MI
