Weed Shop Laws Go Up in Smoke, But Supporters Say Relax
Three ballot questions regulating retail marijuana failed in recent elections, but that doesn’t necessarily mean legal cannabis is going anywhere.
Last week’s elections didn’t have a lot of blockbuster races or questions that dominated headlines in Michigan. But Michigan’s emerging cannabis industry — now legal under 2018’s Proposal One — did get tested in three communities.
Highland Park, Vanderbilt, and Crystal Lake all had local ballot questions to determine whether marijuana businesses would be allowed to operate inside their borders.
All three failed.
What does that mean for the prospects of legal weed in Michigan? At least one marijuana industry advocate says he’s not concerned.
“It’s really a blip on the radar,” says Michigan Cannabis Industry Association spokesperson Josh Hovey. “These were three small ballot initiatives that didn’t happen to pass.”
Hovey says it might take time for cities and towns that have opted out of allowing marijuana businesses to change their mind. But he thinks that’s more likely to happen after the state begins issuing business licenses later this year.
“We think that the communities that are embracing change and embracing the progress of legalization will show the way forward to the other communities that are more hesitant. And as they see that the sky doesn’t fall, that these are reputable, highly regulated businesses, they’ll be more welcome in the future.”
