It took just a year for the City of Mt. Pleasant to adopt a recreational marijuana ordinance following Michigan voters’ legalizing it in 2018.
Now the city has opened up its application window for recreational facilities in Mt. Pleasant.
This, however, is not a free-for-all. Like the medical marijuana ordinance before it, the recreational ordinance has limits as to what kind and how many facilities will be allowed.
It’s a wait-and-see approach. The city wants to permit only a handful of organizations to establish themselves, see how it goes, and then proceed from there.
"Throughout the ordinance-adopting process, we realized that many folks in the community wanted these facilities, but they wanted them introduced in a smart way," says Jacob Kain, city planner for Mt. Pleasant.
"Let’s provide opportunity and economic development but also learn through the experience by starting small."
Mt. Pleasant opened up its application window for recreational marijuana establishments on Monday, Jan. 6. Though it’s been a slow submission rate so far, Kain says that the same happened with the medical marijuana process and to expect more applicants closer to the deadline.
Applications for retailers, growers, and micro-businesses will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28.
According to the ordinance, the city will only approve up to five Class A-licensed growers, up to three Class B- and C-licensed growers, up to three retailers, and up to two micro-businesses, or those allowed to grow, process, and sell their own product in-house.
"In general, the objective is to find the applicants best suited to operate in the city. There are points awarded for background, business records, proposed investments, employment numbers, impact on surrounding areas, energy efficiency, and more," Kain says.
"We’re looking for well-rounded applications that will provide positive outcomes for the city."
Visit the city online to learn more about the application process.
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