Mt. Pleasant has proposed to allow various medical marijuana facilities to open in the city. On May 29, 12 people spoke at a public hearing to the Mt. Pleasant City Commission about opening up these facilities. Out of 12, only one person was opposed to the idea of allowing these types of facilities in the city. The commission took no action after the hearing, but scheduled a work session for commissioners on June 4 at the city hall for further discussion. The city plans to allow 5 types of businesses: Grow operations, processing centers, provisioning centers, secure transporters and safety compliances. The ordinance allows for 3 of the 5 businesses to be chosen which will be chosen by lottery.
Although the city is getting ready to let down their walls and open up their arms to the cannabis community, restrictions will still be heavily set in place. Mindy Norton of the Morning Sun News explained in her article, “ Citizens Weigh in as Mt. Pleasant Nears Marijuana Decision,” That there will be strict zoning laws when it comes to cannabis facilities. No cannabis operation is to be within 1,000 feet of any school which includes Central Michigan University. Hopefully, after the discussion on June 4, there will be more information on the reasoning for these zoning laws particularly, the regulation on the distance from the university.
With the many concerns of Mt. Pleasant citizens, there were also high praise and support from others. Mt. Pleasant resident, Jim Moreno, spoke in favor of the location restrictions, “ I believe in compromise. I Don’t think that school kids will be walking into a provisioning center and getting some medical marijuana. It doesn’t work that way. You have to have a card. There’s security in front, [and] all that stuff.” Many citizens have their opinions on the location restrictions, but the fact is, is that Mt.Pleasant will be the new home to many different cannabis companies and facilities.
For more information on the proposed ordinance, visit the city’s website at www.mt-pleasant.org