Marine City officials are continuing to discuss options for deciding whether or not to allow recreational marijuana dispensaries in the community.
The commission voted in June to direct the city attorney to craft an actionable ballot initiative to allow dispensaries in the city. At the commission’s Sept. 7 meeting, a few people spoke during public comments against having recreational marijuana facilities in the city. One person asked for simple language on any ballot initiative; one thanked the commission for doing its due diligence, and another asked the commission to decide on the issue, rather than bring it to the public.
City Attorney Robert Davis said he gave three options to the commission in February: to do nothing and maintain the ordinance that prohibits all facilities in the city, which was passed in 2019; to develop an ordinance scheme where the city would have control over where recreational facilities would be located in the city and what type of facilities those would be; or to work on a city ballot initiative that does not violate the law, which he said could be difficult.
The draft initiative was expected to include setbacks of 1,000 feet with respect to residential zones and from schools,