Detroit Approves Moratorium on New Marijuana Dispensaries

Michigan voters decided that the Detroit City Council shouldn't have as much power to limit marijuana in their city, so the Detroit City Council shut it all down.

1 minute read

February 15, 2018, 8:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


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"A moratorium prohibiting new medical marijuana facilities from opening in Detroit for nearly six months went into effect Wednesday," reports Katrease Stafford.

Unlike the surprise Airbnb ban that took effect and was quickly renounced last week, this moratorium seems to have the force of law:  "A spokesman for Mayor Mike Duggan confirmed to the Free Press that the mayor signed the resolution early Wednesday, a day after the Detroit City Council voted in favor of the 180-day moratorium."

The city decided to enact the moratorium after Michigan voters approved two initiatives that relax local regulation of marijuana businesses. Late last year, "the City Council pushed the city's legal department to challenge the proposals, saying both measures contain improper and potentially illegal zoning language," reports Stafford. Detroit had passed an ordinance in 2016 that made it more difficult to operate marijuana dispensaries.

Stafford also reports that Councilmember James Tate is working on new legislation would update local marijuana regulations in response to the new state laws.

Wednesday, February 14, 2018 in The Detroit Free Press

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