KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — A medical marijuana store in Kalamazoo is suing local government over claims of lost profits and state law violations due to the city opt-out of recreational sales.
Lume Cannabis Co., which opened on Stadium Drive last year, claims that the city decision to opt out of recreational marijuana sales for the time being is impacting their business.
Currently, a deadline to craft a proper ordinance for recreational marijuana is set for June 1, 2020. Then-Mayor Bobby Hopewell had said he was in favor of an opt out, but that he would have liked to see it dealt with sooner than June.
City leaders maintain that time is needed to create the best possible ordinance for recreational sales.
“We’re going to have the best roll-out that we can possibly have here in the City of Kalamazoo,” Now-Mayor David Anderson said last October.
Representatives of Lume say it was their intention to participate in Kalamazoo recreational sales, but that the delayed opt in has stagnated the move.
Lume is also making claims of lost profits, saying that customers now go elsewhere in Western Michigan in order to purchase recreational products.
The Green Door in Bangor is the latest shop outside of Kalamazoo to allow recreational sales.
The City of Kalamazoo published an initial draft of the ordinance on February 28, which can be read in full online at this link. However, this is only one draft, and a full version has yet to be finalized.
Meanwhile, Kalamazoo Township has also opted-in to allow recreational marijuana businesses ahead of the city.
