Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
Medical marijuana could be grown and sold in Coloma if the city passes an ordinance allowing it. Craig Aronoff, an attorney with the Cannabis Legal Group out of Royal Oak, Mich., asked the City Commission Monday night to consider opting in to a state law to allow medical marijuana facilities in the city.
The attorney said his group has been hired by someone interested in opening a dispensary and growing operation in the city.
City commissioners listened, but did not formally respond to Aronoff’s presentation.
“It’s a great community and it’s got enough traffic to make it worthwhile,” Aronoff said. “In a sense I don’t think they can look at it and say there’s enough patients alone that live in the community, so it would have to service a broader community than just Coloma. The hope is more people would come to town and buy not only their goods but other goods, and use Coloma’s restaurants and other services.”
He said the city would have total control over the type of facility or facilities, and where facilities would be located. It could limit a medical marijuana facility to a specific zoned area or something broader than that.
“(The commission) might stick them in some obscure spot where you have to get all the way through town to get to it, which could make your town more attractive that way,” he said.
Aronoff explained the state’s Medical Marijuana Facilities Licensing Act and some of the research of the benefits of medical marijuana.
Under this act the product is regulated, tested and taxed, and the locations of facilities are regulated. Before the new law, there was no control and medical marijuana was mainly an underground operation, Aronoff said.
“They were trying to hide from the community rather than being upfront and saying ‘this is who we are and this is what we’re doing.’” he said. “The new law allows for a lot more transparency.”
Coloma would then see a percentage of the taxes made from any facility in the community, Aronoff maintained.
He added that there are five different licensing options under Michigan law: growing, processing, testing, transporting and selling (dispensing).
Aronoff said a dispensary would bring 8-10 jobs, while a grow operation could bring 25 or more, depending on how big it is.
Aronoff said the sooner Coloma opts in, the sooner this interested person would make their investment. The interested party has some parcels picked out and once they know for sure the city is going to participate, they’ll execute their deal, buy the property and begin to fix it up.
“They’re going to make a substantial investment even before the state says yes or no. They may buy, invest and the state says no. There’s no certainty for them and it’s the risk they all take,” Aronoff said. “But it’s our job to make sure the business plan is solid.”
He said they would even help Coloma draft an ordinance, if the city is interested.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Coloma hears medical marijuana pitch - The Herald Palladium : Local News
Author: ALEXANDRA NEWMAN
Contact: Contact Us - The Herald Palladium : Site
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: The Herald Palladium : The Newspaper for Southwest Michigan
The attorney said his group has been hired by someone interested in opening a dispensary and growing operation in the city.
City commissioners listened, but did not formally respond to Aronoff’s presentation.
“It’s a great community and it’s got enough traffic to make it worthwhile,” Aronoff said. “In a sense I don’t think they can look at it and say there’s enough patients alone that live in the community, so it would have to service a broader community than just Coloma. The hope is more people would come to town and buy not only their goods but other goods, and use Coloma’s restaurants and other services.”
He said the city would have total control over the type of facility or facilities, and where facilities would be located. It could limit a medical marijuana facility to a specific zoned area or something broader than that.
“(The commission) might stick them in some obscure spot where you have to get all the way through town to get to it, which could make your town more attractive that way,” he said.
Aronoff explained the state’s Medical Marijuana Facilities Licensing Act and some of the research of the benefits of medical marijuana.
Under this act the product is regulated, tested and taxed, and the locations of facilities are regulated. Before the new law, there was no control and medical marijuana was mainly an underground operation, Aronoff said.
“They were trying to hide from the community rather than being upfront and saying ‘this is who we are and this is what we’re doing.’” he said. “The new law allows for a lot more transparency.”
Coloma would then see a percentage of the taxes made from any facility in the community, Aronoff maintained.
He added that there are five different licensing options under Michigan law: growing, processing, testing, transporting and selling (dispensing).
Aronoff said a dispensary would bring 8-10 jobs, while a grow operation could bring 25 or more, depending on how big it is.
Aronoff said the sooner Coloma opts in, the sooner this interested person would make their investment. The interested party has some parcels picked out and once they know for sure the city is going to participate, they’ll execute their deal, buy the property and begin to fix it up.
“They’re going to make a substantial investment even before the state says yes or no. They may buy, invest and the state says no. There’s no certainty for them and it’s the risk they all take,” Aronoff said. “But it’s our job to make sure the business plan is solid.”
He said they would even help Coloma draft an ordinance, if the city is interested.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Coloma hears medical marijuana pitch - The Herald Palladium : Local News
Author: ALEXANDRA NEWMAN
Contact: Contact Us - The Herald Palladium : Site
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: The Herald Palladium : The Newspaper for Southwest Michigan