Flushing View

Township and City of Flushing pass recreational marijuana ordinances




FLUSHING — Flushing Township and the City of Flushing have successfully passed ordinances to ban the sale of recreational marijuana in their jurisdictions.

Both the Flushing Township Board of Trustees and Flushing City Council gave unanimous approval to the statutes, with the township adopting its ordinance on Jan. 10 and the city following suite on Monday during its council meeting.

As a result of the ordinances, recreational marijuana establishments will not be allowed to open for business in the city or township. Using marijuana in public or operating a vehicle while under the influence of marijuana are also prohibited.

In accordance with state law, neither ordinance will prevent individuals from possessing or growing recreational marijuana for personal use in their homes— provided that users follow state guidelines. Residents 21 and older can possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and grow up to 12 plants in a secure, locked facility. Transportation of marijuana through the city and/or township will also be allowed.

Although the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) is still over a year away from issuing licenses to recreational marijuana businesses, officials in Flushing Township and the City of Flushing wanted to make their stances clear ahead of time to prevent such establishments from settling in.

Unlike the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act (MMMA), which requires cities and townships to “opt in” if they want medical marijuana facilities, Proposal 1 has a provision that requires communities to “opt out” if they don’t want recreational marijuana growers or sellers to set up shop.

The city and township both have ordinances prohibiting medical marijuana establishments.

Flushing City Attorney Matt McKone and Flushing Township Attorney Steve Moulton have said that if residents are unhappy with the respective ordinances, they can organize a public referendum to override or amend the statutes.

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