Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Highland City Council passed a resolution to support any applicant who would put a medical marijuana cultivation facility in the City of Highland during their regular meeting Feb. 14.
The decision came after a presentation and request made by attorney Michelle Huff, on behalf of a client who at this time has requested to remain anonymous to the public.
"Most of you probably are familiar with the fact Arkansas passed Amendment 6 on Nov. 8 which is the Medical Marijuana Act and allows marijuana to be grown in Arkansas in licensed cultivation facilities," Huff said. "As of right now, I believe they are going to allow five maybe four. So it's going to be a very competitive process and there are also going to be dispensaries which will be around the state but that is not what this client is asking to do. They want to engage in cultivating marijuana. It's a schedule drug that will be very regulated and at this point the regulations, are very fluid."
Huff told the council her client was someone with a vested interest in seeing northern Sharp County grow and is a well respected member of the community with good intentions. Huff said if her client was able to secure one of the licenses, it would create between 25 to 40 jobs in the area.
"This is [will be] the production of medical marijuana; it's not recreational, not growing a patch down by the river. You should see the application. It's a shot in the dark. One of the main things is going to be security and I anticipate there will be a lot of local jobs, jobs for local officers, transportation, labeling, packaging. It's basically a lab and there is a limit on how much people can get every 14 days. It's going to be extremely regulated," Huff said.
Following her presentation, Economic Development Commissioner John Kunkel was asked his opinion in regards to how a cultivation facility would impact the area and also asked his opinion as a Spring River Area Chamber of Commerce member about public perception, should the council make the decision to support the business.
"From the economic development standpoint for Sharp County, we all know we need businesses to come to Sharp County . This is one of those that we have to take away our personal emotions and look at what the law is and what the intended purpose is. It's pharmaceutical and if we can bring in a business which will provide revenue as well as jobs, I think it's a win-win," Kunkel said.
He also told the council while looking over the numbers from the recent election, there were four cities including Highland, that were overwhelmingly in support of passing the Medical Marijuana Act.
Although not all residents of Sharp County were for the passing, Kunkel reminded the council that many people who come to the area for vacation or to live come from somewhere else, meaning the mindsets of each person may be different.
Kunkel said many may look at the medical aspects and consider how it would effect a family member, neighbor or friend.
"Like Michelle said, it's here. The county, city and state voted and so it's our responsibility as citizens how do we do what the voters ask for. From a perception standpoint, I think we'd be fine. From the chamber and development standpoint, I think we'll be good. At the end of the day call a spade a spade, we don't have businesses wanting to come to Sharp County. [If] we can change the morale, [and ask the question] what will this bring? [We will probably have] more restaurants and business all around; I think it'd be good."
Later in the meeting, after a lengthy discussion, the council voted to pass the resolution.
In other business, Mayor Russell Truitt updated the council about one of the fire department's tanker trucks. Truitt said one of the tanks had cracked but by having municipal league insurance, the city only paid $1,000 toward having a new tank.
It was a similar story for one of the police department's police vehicles which was damaged during a high speed chase recently.
In his report, Police Chief Shane Russell told the council his department would be eligible for a BLOC Grant and the funds would be used to purchase equipment for the department's officers.
The council also voted to send one of the city's employees to a training facility in Iowa in order to become certified to repair the city's sewer pumps.
Truitt said by having the employee obtain the certification, the city would save several hundreds of dollars per repair job. Currently, repairs are costing the city between $300 and $1,200. Truitt said the money saved by just one or two repairs would more than pay for the cost of sending the employee to become certified.
The Highland City Council meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. inside city hall.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Highland City Council Passes Medical Marijuana Cultivation Facilities Resolution
Author: Lauren Siebert
Contact: Area Wide News
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Website: Area Wide News
The decision came after a presentation and request made by attorney Michelle Huff, on behalf of a client who at this time has requested to remain anonymous to the public.
"Most of you probably are familiar with the fact Arkansas passed Amendment 6 on Nov. 8 which is the Medical Marijuana Act and allows marijuana to be grown in Arkansas in licensed cultivation facilities," Huff said. "As of right now, I believe they are going to allow five maybe four. So it's going to be a very competitive process and there are also going to be dispensaries which will be around the state but that is not what this client is asking to do. They want to engage in cultivating marijuana. It's a schedule drug that will be very regulated and at this point the regulations, are very fluid."
Huff told the council her client was someone with a vested interest in seeing northern Sharp County grow and is a well respected member of the community with good intentions. Huff said if her client was able to secure one of the licenses, it would create between 25 to 40 jobs in the area.
"This is [will be] the production of medical marijuana; it's not recreational, not growing a patch down by the river. You should see the application. It's a shot in the dark. One of the main things is going to be security and I anticipate there will be a lot of local jobs, jobs for local officers, transportation, labeling, packaging. It's basically a lab and there is a limit on how much people can get every 14 days. It's going to be extremely regulated," Huff said.
Following her presentation, Economic Development Commissioner John Kunkel was asked his opinion in regards to how a cultivation facility would impact the area and also asked his opinion as a Spring River Area Chamber of Commerce member about public perception, should the council make the decision to support the business.
"From the economic development standpoint for Sharp County, we all know we need businesses to come to Sharp County . This is one of those that we have to take away our personal emotions and look at what the law is and what the intended purpose is. It's pharmaceutical and if we can bring in a business which will provide revenue as well as jobs, I think it's a win-win," Kunkel said.
He also told the council while looking over the numbers from the recent election, there were four cities including Highland, that were overwhelmingly in support of passing the Medical Marijuana Act.
Although not all residents of Sharp County were for the passing, Kunkel reminded the council that many people who come to the area for vacation or to live come from somewhere else, meaning the mindsets of each person may be different.
Kunkel said many may look at the medical aspects and consider how it would effect a family member, neighbor or friend.
"Like Michelle said, it's here. The county, city and state voted and so it's our responsibility as citizens how do we do what the voters ask for. From a perception standpoint, I think we'd be fine. From the chamber and development standpoint, I think we'll be good. At the end of the day call a spade a spade, we don't have businesses wanting to come to Sharp County. [If] we can change the morale, [and ask the question] what will this bring? [We will probably have] more restaurants and business all around; I think it'd be good."
Later in the meeting, after a lengthy discussion, the council voted to pass the resolution.
In other business, Mayor Russell Truitt updated the council about one of the fire department's tanker trucks. Truitt said one of the tanks had cracked but by having municipal league insurance, the city only paid $1,000 toward having a new tank.
It was a similar story for one of the police department's police vehicles which was damaged during a high speed chase recently.
In his report, Police Chief Shane Russell told the council his department would be eligible for a BLOC Grant and the funds would be used to purchase equipment for the department's officers.
The council also voted to send one of the city's employees to a training facility in Iowa in order to become certified to repair the city's sewer pumps.
Truitt said by having the employee obtain the certification, the city would save several hundreds of dollars per repair job. Currently, repairs are costing the city between $300 and $1,200. Truitt said the money saved by just one or two repairs would more than pay for the cost of sending the employee to become certified.
The Highland City Council meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. inside city hall.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Highland City Council Passes Medical Marijuana Cultivation Facilities Resolution
Author: Lauren Siebert
Contact: Area Wide News
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Website: Area Wide News