NILES TOWNSHIP — While the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Board issued emergency administrative rules for medical marijuana this week, many municipalities feel left in the dark, with rumors that guidelines regarding medical marijuana operations could change before the end of the year.

This was a driving factor in the Niles Township board of trustees’ call Monday night to opt out of the medical marijuana ordinance. Trustees voted unanimously on the decision to officially opt out of the law. Prior to the vote, trustees discussed the merit of opting in or out.

Trustee Herschel Hoese asked to add the item to the board’s agenda. Hoese said the township’s attorneys from the Michigan Township Association had recommended they opt out. Hoese also cited the lack of clarity in the rules and regulations created by the state. With rumors that some of the initial guidelines could change, Hoese cautioned trustees about opting into the law at this time.

“We are opting in to something that we don’t know yet what we are buying into,” Hoese said.

Treasurer Jim Ringler concurred.

“Until you see the rules and regulations and what the requirements are for the municipalities, why would you opt in?” Ringler said. “You don’t even in know what you are opting into.”

However, Ringler also brought up the fact that there could be some loss to the township by opting out.

“Just remember that since the city of Niles is opting in, you may end up with some of that stuff anyways, without getting paid,” Ringler said. “Everybody from anywhere within 100 miles of here will drive through our township to get to the city of Niles. You may end up with a lot of the burdens without any of the revenue. That’s the other side of the issue.”

Medical marijuana businesses have been expressing interest in establishing facilities in Niles Township. Supervisor Jim Stover said on average he received about 10 phone calls from interested parties, while the township’s zoning administration has also been contacted regularly.

Stover told trustees taking a stance on the issue was important. He said if trustees did nothing, the consequence would be a burden on the sheriff’s department.

Trustees also discussed how they had the option to opt in to the ordinance. If they change their minds, trustees seemed to agree that the safest route was opting out until solid rules and regulations from the state had been put in place.

Looking to the future, Trustee Terry Eull said with Michigan residents collecting petition signatures with the intent to legalize marijuana recreationally, board members had not heard the last of marijuana related issues.

“By the time medical marijuana even gets settled and the ink dries,” Eull said, “we are going to have a vote next year to legalize recreational marijuana.”

Trustees voted to base their opt-out ordinance on documents drawn by the Michigan Township Association’s legal counsel.

Also Monday:

• Niles Township trustees voted unanimously to change the regularly scheduled meeting times to 6 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. Trustee Dan Pulaski brought the issue to the board and said he hoped that an earlier time would draw more community members to the meeting. The new meeting time will go into effect at the beginning of the year. The next meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 18 at the Niles Township Charter Hall, 320 Bell Road.

• Niles Township trustees voted unanimously to approve a 2 percent salary raise to Niles Township firefighters for the next four years. The raise period will begin in 2018.