NILES TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WNDU) – Niles Charter Township has approved nearly two dozen marijuana dispensary applications.
It was a packed room as dozens of Niles Township residents attended Monday night’s regular meeting.
Many voiced concerns, saying the move to allow an unlimited number of dispensaries could have a negative impact on the community.
Before taking a vote on whether to approve 21 marijuana establishment applications, Treasurer Jim Ringler recused himself.
In the end, all 21 applications were approved, although Trustee Herschel Hoese was the only person to vote no.
“I am convinced in my mind that marijuana, although it is not terrible, it is a gateway drug,” Hoese said. “I’ve had family members, I’ve had friends that have started smoking marijuana and have graduated and have moved on to harder drugs. I, for my grandchildren, my children, my other family members, I have taken a stance against it, and certainly going with 22 or 25 or 50 stores is a matter of grief on the township, and I think it is totally out of place.
“If it would have been managed correctly to where we didn’t get to this point, it might have been different,” he continued. “But now here, we are going… I think in the end this board will take a stance that they have made a mistake.”
The board also passed a temporary moratorium on accepting new marijuana business applications until Friday at 4:30 p.m.
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It was a packed room as dozens of Niles Township residents attended Monday night’s regular meeting. Read More
