ROYAL OAK — The city of Royal Oak has banned recreational marijuana businesses for now, but city leaders reportedly plan to get input from residents to consider such businesses in the future.
Michigan voters approved proposal 1, allowing adults 21 and older to use marijuana for recreational purposes, in the Nov. 6 election, but each municipality gets to decide if it will allow marijuana businesses within its borders.
Cities around Michigan are currently weighing in on marijuana businesses. Dearborn’s City Council has taken up the issue and will vote on whether it wants to opt out on Dec. 4. Dearborn voters passed the proposal on November 6 by 22 votes.
Royal Oak joins several other municipalities that 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 feelings about passing the ordinance in a 4-3 vote this week to ban marijuana facilities, according to the Daily Tribune. The city plans to explore the potential impact of such businesses in the city.
Three-fourths of Royal Oak residents reportedly voted in favor of proposal 1. 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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