MILTON TOWNSHIP —Milton Township trustees voted 3-2 Monday to rescind an ordinance initially created to approve medical marijuana facilities. The repeal means that Milton Township will not permit medical marijuana businesses to operate in the township.

Packed into the Milton Township Hall, more than 50 people waited for trustees to decide the fate of a medical marijuana ordinance that had been approved in October to permit growers and processors to do business in the township.

The issue came back to trustees for a vote, after they were contacted by Cass County Sheriff Richard Behnke and Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz. Both asked trustees to meet with them for a discussion.

Fitz shared a packet of information discussing the potential effects of medical marijuana in a document entitled “Don’t Be Fooled Again.”

Feeling called to reconsider their decision, Supervisor Richard Benjamin invited residents to speak during a public hearing on the topic Tuesday night.

Eleven people spoke and all supported revoking the medical marijuana ordinance and forbidding marijuana businesses in the area. One letter was also read voicing opposition.

Among them was Gary Gaskill, a Milton Township resident, who warned trustees that if they decided to permit medical marijuana operations they would be “opening Pandora’s box.”

“If you pass it here, you give it a foothold,” Gaskill said. “The young kids are going to get it, too. Just like beer and everything else.”

Gaskill said permitting medical marijuana operations would only invite trouble and perhaps encourage people from over the state lines to come to Michigan to commit crimes.

“I sure don’t want it in my town,” Gaskill said.

Others shared similar sentiments on the topic.

Tabitha Pollard, of Cassopolis, said she works as a family nurse practitioner. Many of her clients are adolescents who use marijuana, she said.

“They struggle with the perception that it is very low risk,” Pollard said. “It is natural, it is safe, it is almost legal. But I see the downfall, the family dysfunction. They are dropping out and struggling with anxiety, depression and suicide. It is worsening with marijuana. From a medical stand point it is no good.”

Trustee Kelly Sweeney referenced an article published in the Journal of American Medicine Association 2015, which noted that some patients in a study benefitted from medical marijuana use.   

“So, there is evidence out there that there are people in chronic pain that can benefit from medical marijuana,” Sweeney said.

Others who spoke mentioned the strain a medical marijuana ordinance could place on law enforcement. Benjamin addressed this concern before trustees cast their votes and said that revenue the township earned from medical marijuana had been planned to be allocated back to the law enforcement.

Fitz and Behnke were also present during the meeting and stayed to answer questions from residents.

Fitz reiterated the information that he had shared with trustees. He told the audience that less than 5 percent of those who used medical marijuana suffered from life-threatening illnesses like cancer, AIDS, HIV and glaucoma. The rest of users — about 92 percent, suffer from chronic pains, like muscle spasms. The data was based upon 120,121 total patients from 2011 to 2012.

Fitz asked for those in the audience and trustees to consider the lasting impact of allowing medical marijuana facilities to do business in Milton Township.

“What happens here tonight will affect the future of your kids, adults and the communities,” Fitz said. “It will be a permanent impact that will go one way or the other.”

Almost immediately after trustees voted to rescind the ordinance, the mostly satisfied audience got up and left.

After the meeting, Benjamin said he believed trustees voted in a way that represented what residents felt was best for their community. Should residents think differently, Benjamin said the topic could be brought up for discussion again. He also added that those in Milton Township who have medical marijuana cards, will not have to travel far to get it, given the city of Niles approval of an opt-in ordinance.

Benjamin thanked residents for sharing their feedback and encouraged more people to reach out their local government. The Milton Township Hall can be reached at (269) 684-7262 or visit miltontwp.org.