Buchanan Divided Over Medical Marijuana Retail Dispensaries

[bobandtorey]

BUCHANAN, Mich. (WNDU) --- What makes the Red Bud City blossom? If you ask JT Williams, traditional values sow the seeds of Buchanan.

"We're trying to protect our communities," said Williams.

Williams fears a new Michigan law will threaten his native city's safety. Signed in December 2016, the Medical Marijuana Facilities Act outlines regulation, implementation, and enforcement of medicinal cannabis. It create fives licenses: marijuana growers, processors, secure transporters, provisioning centers, and safety compliance facilities. The law specifies provisioning centers (or retail dispensaries) must pay a 3 percent tax on annual gross receipts. 

Local governments stand to gain: 25 percent of what's taxed heads to municipalities where medical marijuana facilities are located. 30 percent of funds are allocated to counties with the facilities. In both cases, the money is divided in proportion to the number of facilities in a locality.

 

"Legal or illegal, a drug is a drug," maintained Williams. "Drugs and alcohol are normally associated with violence and chaos and the inner cities. That's why we're concerned about it."

A Buchanan city attorney defined two additional state legislative changes, including the new Medical Marijuana Tracking Act, a law requiring electronic monitoring from seed to patient use -- or destruction of the plant. Lawmakers also amended the 2008 Medical Marijuana Act to clarify ambiguities.

Buchanan's Mayor Brenda Hess said the issue interests her, considering two family members suffer from Parkinson's disease.

"I would be interested in finding out more for them to help with some of their severe symptoms," she said.

Hess said she is open-minded but understands community concerns. 

"You don't want to have (medical marijuana) fall into kids' hands," Hess expressed. "Certainly, we are thinking about that, too, from a school standpoint."

Williams defended his anti-drug stance but conceded he might support the location of dispensaries on the outskirts of town.

"If they are somewhere where our children aren't going to be affected by it or our (single-parent women), or our elderly aren't going to be affected by it," he itemized. 

The Medical Marijuana Facilities Act goes into effect on December 15, 2017. Hess hopes to wrap up the debate as soon as possible. Buchanan City Commissioners will decide whether or not to adopt the pair of new medical marijuana laws. The state cannot force cities to opt-in.

Two public information sessions will take place over the next two weeks. On Monday, February 13, the City Commission will decide on those dates.

Stay with NewsCenter 16 for the latest on times and locations.

To read about the new laws and changes, click here.

 

http://www.wndu.com/content/news/Buchanan-divided-over-medical-marijuana-retail-dispensaries-413116353.html

[jammeswinston]

oh yeah i forgot weed creates violence and chaos...