Scottville, Amber boards hear about marijuana facility options.

November 21, 2017

Scottville, Amber boards hear about marijuana facility options.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

SCOTTVILLE — Marijuana was a topic for both the Amber Township Board of Trustees and Scottville City Commission at their respective board meetings Monday afternoon. The Scottville City Commission was scheduled to hear a presentation by Tom Reis of the Michigan Marijuana Law Experts. Reis serves as a consultant to assist communities that decide to approve the allowance of marijuana facilities. 

City Manager Amy Williams said Mayor Bruce Krieger referred the topic to the city’s ordinance committee and invited Reis to speak to that committee in further detail. Williams said several people addressed the commission in favor of Scottville allowing marijuana facilities. (Corrected information: Initially it was reported that Reis was at the meeting). 

Amber Township’s board heard public comment from Mike Benedict and Jeff Hathaway about a proposal to develop a dispensary and possible grow facility at a building they own in the 1700 block of West US 10-31, between Amber and Quarterline roads, according to Township Supervisor Jim Gallie. 

“We had them provide as much information as they could to let the board understand what they are wanting,” Gallie said. “They said they would put a packet together with the information so we could have something to study. We took no action at that time.”

Gallie said the board did not discuss the matter any further and will likely discuss it at a future meeting.

Current state law allows for municipalities to pass ordinances to authorize medical marijuana facilities and to amend zoning ordinances to regulate the facilities. The law also allows for municipalities to take no action, which would not allow the facilities to operate in those communities. The municipalities also have the option to pass an ordinance stating that it has chosen to opt out of allowing marijuana facilities.

Eats