City Councilman and Pro-Marijuana Activist Debate Detroit Pot Proposals

Detroit Today continues the debate on whether the city should ease restrictions on marijuana facilities.

Jake Neher/WDET

Detroit voters are about to decide whether or not to set a new course when it comes to medical marijuana in the city.

Two proposals will appear on the November ballot in Detroit that would ease restrictions on how medical marijuana facilities operate and where they can locate.

Last week on Detroit Today, the show began a conversation about the proposals. Host Stephen Henderson picks that conversation back up with Councilman James Tate, who wrote Detroit’s existing ordinance on medical marijuana facilities, and Jonathan Barlow, who is with Citizens for Sensible Cannabis Reform, the group that collected signatures to put the questions on the ballot.

“It now comes to a point where people have to put up or shut up,” says Tate. “If you don’t like these facilities in your community overrunning your neighborhood, then you’ll vote ‘no.’ If you don’t have a problem with it, then, well, vote ‘yes.’ I’m a solid ‘no’ on both.”

“This deals with the industry as a whole,” says Barlow. “And Detroit is going to miss it’s mark. And that’s why citizens should vote yes.”

Click on the audio player above to hear the full conversation.

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  • Detroit Today
    Dynamic and diverse voices. News, politics, community and the issues that define our region. Hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Stephen Henderson, Detroit Today brings you fresh and perceptive views weekdays at 9 am and 7 pm.