Royal Oak Is Latest City To Say No To Marijuana Businesses

ROYAL OAK, MI — Royal Oak has banned recreational marijuana businesses from the city for now but city leaders reportedly plan to get input from residents to consider such businesses in the future.

Michigan voters approved marijuana for recreational use in the Nov. 6 election, but each city gets to decide on if they will allow businesses within their community.

Cities around Michigan are currently weighing in on the marijuana business. Dearborn’s city council has taken up the issue and will vote on whether they want to opt out of proposal 1 Dec. 4.

Royal Oak now joins several other municipalities which have voted against letting the industry in, including Pinckney and Niles.

St. Joseph is also considering an opt-out, the Associated Press reported.

Royal Oak’s City Commissioners had mixed views about passing the ordinance in a 4-3 vote this week to ban marijuana facilities, according to the Daily Tribune. The city plans to w explore the potential impact of such businesses in the city.

Three-fourths of Royal Oak residents reportedly voted in favor of proposal 1, which will allow adults 21 and older to use marijuana recreationally. The law is expected to take effect on Dec. 6, but businesses would not be opened until 2020.

A next possible move for Royal Oak is to have a town hall meeting on the matter with its residents.

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