KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The Kalamazoo City Commission is considering delaying allowing recreational marijuana shops in the city for the time being.
During a meeting on Monday, September 16th, the Board of Commissioners weighed in for over an hour on the first reading of a bill that would delay the decision until June 1st.
Citing concerns such as a “variety of ongoing changes” in State legislature, the board decided to continue waiting until the State rules are more solidified.
“The state did issue emergency rules in regard to adult-use marijuana establishments, those were issued shortly before the fourth of July, and they are due to expire February 1st,” Kalamazoo City Attorney Clyde Robinson said. “The State can do a variety of things come February 1st of next year, they can extend the period of emergency and keep them as tentative rules, or they can adopt formal rules that would be in place. Until we know what that regulatory landscape looks like, I think we want to hedge our bets.”
Citizens such as Mayoral Candidate Corey Smith weighed in on the issue, saying the marijuana revenue could be helpful to affordable housing problems..
“We have to opt in to allow residential marijuana dispensaries to open in a zoning area,” Smith said. “We would then be able to receive a 15% access, take that, and put it into the condemned houses and vacant lots, make them into apartments, and then we take the money and make it rentable. Then we can also take that money and put it into park and family playgrounds.”
The Board made it clear that the move was not anti-marijuana, and that they are willing to discuss the issue.
“Portage, like ourselves, have opted out, they opted out soon after the act was passed, but as I understand it, they said they are leaving the opportunity open to revisit that decision,” Robinson said. “That’s kind of what I’m suggesting we do at this point, let’s see where things settle, see what the road map looks like, let’s hear what our community members are saying before we say yes to this.”
Commissioner Eric Cunningham made remarks on the importance of the issue to citizens.
“This opportunity presented itself on a ballot, and the City of Kalamazoo overwhelmingly voted ‘yes’ to it,” Cunningham said. “That doesn’t take into account the State statutes and components that have transpired since the actual election, but it’s rare that we find opportunity where 70-plus percent of the community is saying ‘yes’ to something, and so I don’t think this is something we put on the backburner, I think it’s a high priority.”
Cunnigham added that the decision should be made as early as possible if delayed.
Mayor Bobby Hopewell also stressed that the Board is not against adult marijuana use.
“Clearly, this commission is open to [recreational marijuana] in our community,” Hopewell said. “We are trying to address the ‘how’ it occurs in Kalamazoo. That’s what this commission has done. This commission is not standing here saying we have a belief that there should never be recreational marijuana in our community. Just like with medical, it’s about the ‘how,’ and just like with medical, we had a number of things we dove into, sent back, reworded, and all that stuff with a whole bunch of community input, and we’re in that same situation here.”
The City maintains that a future decision could repeal the measure before June 1st and allow recreational businesses to open in the Kalamazoo community.
A first reading was passed Monday night but a final vote is expected in late October.
