Communities nix marijuana dispensaries.

January 4, 2019

Communities nix marijuana dispensaries.

#Proposal1

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

OCEANA COUNTY – One third of Oceana County’s 23 total municipalities have nixed recreational marijuana dispensaries.

With the state-wide legalization of marijuana through the passage of Proposal 1 last November, it is up to each individual municipality’s governing board or council to vote on allowing the sale of marijuana in their city, village or township. Each board must vote to “opt out” if they do not want the marijuana businesses located in their town.

The nine communities that have confirmed they “opted out” include: the City of Hart, Shelby Village, New Era Village, Rothbury Village, Hesperia Village, Claybanks Township, Grant Township, Benona Township and Shelby Township.

The Village of Hesperia opted out of recreational marijuana dispensaries, Dec. 17. However, the village council opted in for medical marijuana dispensaries, Oct. 8.

OCP called all of Oceana County’s municipalities to find out their status on the issue.

The following list indicates (1) if a vote occurred and the date of the vote; (2) if a vote is scheduled and the date of the meeting; (3) if the issue is pending; and (4) if a voicemail was left inquiring about the status, but the call has not yet been returned. (This list will be updated as return calls come in.)

City and Villages

– City of Hart: No, Dec. 18

– Hesperia: No Dec. 17, but yes for medical marijuana Oct. 8

– New Era: No, Dec. 13

– Pentwater: possible vote Feb. 12

– Rothbury: No, Nov. 13

– Shelby: No, Dec. 10

– Walkerville: waiting for return call.

Townships

– Benona: No, Dec. 18, 2017.

– Claybanks: No, Dec. 12

– Colfax: pending

– Crystal: waiting for return call.

– Elbridge: pending

– Ferry: pending

– Golden: possible vote Feb. 12.

– Grant: No, Dec. 4

– Greenwood: pending

– Hart: waiting for return call.

– Leavitt: pending

– Newfield: pending

– Otto: pending

– Pentwater: waiting for return call.

– Shelby: No, Dec. 3

– Weare: pending.

Officials who have not yet responded to the inquiry are asked to contact OCP Editor Allison Scarbrough at (231) 923-0113.

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