Spurred by discussions about medical marijuana that have blazed in recent weeks around surrounding municipalities, the Niles City Council hosted an ordinance committee Monday night to discuss the possibility of medical marijuana facilities setting up shop in Niles.
Grand Rapids-based William and Works was hired by the city as a consultant to evaluate and complete a recommendation for potential zoning of medical marijuana facilities.
Members of the council were eager to evaluate the information in regards to zoning, but they also sought to discuss what bringing medical marijuana facilities and dispensaries could mean for Niles.
One thing they all agreed on was that there has not yet been enough feedback from the public.
To remedy this, Niles City Council members will host a community forum on medical marijuana at 6 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Niles Fire Station Complex at 1345 E. Main St. In addition to giving the public a chance to talk, there will also be a presentation to explain the statute.
The medical marijuana discussion all stems from a package of bills enacted by Gov. Rick Snyder in September 2016. Public Acts 281 through 283 allow for the opening of drug dispensaries and large-scale grow operations, but it is up to municipalities to decide if they want license of facilities to set up shop within their jurisdiction under the medical marijuana facilities licensing act.
If the municipality decides that they want to allow the facilities, the municipality can charge up to $5,000 in an annual fee to compensate for administrative and enforcement costs.
Licenses for the facilities will not be available until December.
With the passing of the law, five types of facilities could be allowed, including grower, processor, provision center, safety compliance facilities and transporters.
According to the review, William and Works suggested that growers, processors, safety compliance facilities or laboratories and transportation storage would be most appropriately limited to industrial areas, with growers and processors also potentially being placed in agricultural areas as another option, but provision centers or dispensaries were suggested as best fitting in commercial or industrial areas.
Several re-occurring concerns were brought up Monday night during the discussion.
In regards to zoning, some expressed concerns about the facilities being too close to other business traffic, and portraying a certain image about the city.
Councilman William Weimer said that he did not feel that the review was thorough enough and, while the facilities cannot be close to a school, Weimer thought there should be other location restrictions.
“I am personally opposed to it,” Weimer said.
While municipalities are typically not allowed to decided what type of business can go where, City Administrator Ric Huff said that with this particular law the city has jurisdiction to place latitudes that specify exactly where a these types of facilities can be.
Other council members expressed excitement about having another type of medicine available to those who need it.
“We do not want to regulate ourselves out of an opportunity,” said councilman John DiCostanzo.
DiCostanzo said that he wanted people to look at the medical marijuana facilities as a serious business that even in a downtown setting could still be appropriate.
Councilwoman Gretchen Bertschy said that she tried to think of the medical marijuana facilities as just another name for a pharmacy.
“That is really what we are looking at,” Bertschy said. “A pharmacy of a type of product.”
Mayor Nick Shelton said he disagreed.
“It is not like a regular pharmacy in that more people might want to steal that type of product,” he said.
With the establishment of these facilities, Shelton said security would have to be increased.
The planning commission will also be weighing in on the zoning review at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Based on the review they will make a recommendation.
The public is encouraged to become further educated on this issue during the forum and to also express their thoughts and opinions in regards to the matter.
If all goes according to plan, Huff said that they could have an ordinance outlined sometime in March.