Weed May Be Legal, But Many Michigan Communities Have Opted Out

MICHIGAN — Last year Michiganders voted to legalize recreational marijuana and now the state has gotten to the point of being ready to open business, except most cities say they don't want them.

As a part of Proposal 1, communities have the option to opt out of recreational marijuana businesses. These communities can opt back in at a later date, if they choose. So far many have decided to opt out initially until they can see how the new law plays out.

Banning marijuana are some of Metro Detroit's most populated cities, like Detroit, Dearborn, Troy, Livonia, Farmington Hills and Rochester Hills.

Wayne County voted some 61 percent voted in favor of legalizing marijuana, while 38 percent voted against it. More than 30 communities in Wayne County have so far opted out.

In Oakland County, 58.8 percent voted in favor last year while 41 percent voted against. Nearly 50 Oakland County cities have opted out this year.

In Macomb, 55 percent voted to legalize while 45 percent of voters went against the measure. There, some 22 communities have already opted out.

See the full list of communities opting out here.

The state's Marijuana Regulatory Agency delivered the first five recreational marijuana licenses Tuesday, The Detroit Free Press reported: Licenses went to Exclusive Brands in Ann Arbor, PSI Labs, a marijuana testing lab in Ann Arbor, and to Real Leaf Solutions, an event organizer from Kalkaska.