Allen Park City Council candidate Chad Morrow turns in petitions to the city clerk’s office July 24, seeking to allow the city’s voters to decide whether marijuana microbusinesses and retail stores should be permitted in the city. Previously, the city council had opted out of recreational pot shops in the city, despite a majority of city residents casting ballots in favor of recreational marijuana in the state.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
ALLEN PARK – City Council candidate Chad Morrow filed petitions July 24 with the city clerk’s office, which, if validated, could let residents vote on whether to opt in on recreational marijuana businesses in the city.
Despite a majority of city residents casting ballots in the Nov. 6, 2018 election in favor of statewide legalization of recreational marijuana, the city council, for now, has opted out of approving recreational marijuana businesses in the city. Mayor William Matakas is vocal about his opposition to marijuana sales in the city.
The petition calls for an ordinance to permit the establishment of three marijuana microbusinesses, which are “mom and pop” type businesses, and three marijuana retailers.
“These types of facilities are the only ones that bring tax revenue to the communities,” Morrow said. “It’s not relative to how many dollars are spent in Allen Park. Think about it like shares. There is a big pool of revenue and communities each get the same amount of revenue per store (share) that they have in the community.”
Morrow said customers who come to Allen Park from other communities to buy recreational marijuana may spend their discretionary funds at other types of Allen Park businesses as well.
The petition also contains wording which would allow the city to opt in if the state approves marijuana-related businesses which allow onsite consumption, special event permits, and licenses to allow scientific research and education.
The wording mentions the businesses being accessible only to adults 21 and older, and states that the businesses may not be in a residential area, or within a specified distance from schools.
At the July 23 council meeting, during public comment time, Morrow went to the podium and announce his intention to file the petitions.
“As you all know, last November we passed Proposition 1, which is the legalization of cannabis in Michigan,” Morrow said. “In that proposition, there was a stipulation that councils could opt out, which Allen Park did shortly after the election last year.”
Morrow said one of the ways issues like Proposition 1 get placed on the ballot is when people go door-to-door and get petitions signed.
“Basically, when government doesn’t listen to the people, the people have the avenue to put the law to the people on a ballot,” Morrow said. “So, in the Prop 1 law, it does also have the stipulation that if a community (government) opts out, a petition can be done in that community.”
To reverse elected officials, and put the issue on the local ballot, residents needed to gather signatures on petitions representing 5 percent of the number of votes cast for governor in the city in the Nov. 6, 2018, election.
“Here in Allen Park, we needed to get 662 signatures to get that 5 percent,” Morrow said. “In 10 days, we collected 1,000 signatures, so we are looking forward to having this on the November ballot.”
Morrow said the ballot proposal is not anything drastic.
“We did look over the community, and we did take into consideration the bedroom community, close residences, great schools and lots of parks,” he said. “We are not trying to bring in anything like an Amsterdam. This is simply a petition that would allow three provisioning centers and three microbusinesses, which would be a total of six retail facilities, with both being the type which Allen Park would also benefit from the tax revenue.”
Morrow said lawsuits against the Police Department have cost the city a significant amount of money.
“I think this would be a great avenue to bring in some tax revenue for this city,” he said. “No grows, no processing, nothing like that, so there won’t be any concerns for smell or anything like that. It is just going to be a place for the people that want to partake in recreational marijuana to stop by and pick it up.”
Morrow said marijuana retail facilities are no different from liquor stores or establishments where cigarettes or tobacco is sold.
Councilman Harry Sisko said there are some legal questions which will have to be answered about the ballot initiative.
Councilwoman Gail McLeod said she encourages voters to take a careful look at the city’s recreational marijuana retail opt-in proposal, and to do their own research on the issue.
“I know that, in the past, on the city council, a decision was made regarding a great economic benefit to doing something, and that didn’t happen,” McLeod said. “So all I am going to say is that as a voter, you need to be very careful and assess what is being presented, and do a little research, because other states have gone through this, other individuals have promised great profits, and sometimes it comes to fruition, and sometimes they don’t.
“So, it is up to you to be a responsible voter. It is out there and it is available. Don’t just take someone’s word for granted, but look into it.”
Councilman Angelo DeGiulio said he understands the passion Morrow puts into the issue, but he personally does not want recreational marijuana sold in the city.
“But I don’t want that marijuana sold at the corner of my house, and I don’t think anybody else in this city wants a store near the corner of their house selling marijuana,” he said. “As far as the profit goes, I don’t care about the profits. I don’t want that garbage in my city. I don’t want it here.”
(Sue Suchyta can be reached at [email protected])