COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch County Board of Commissioners gave County Administrator Bud Norman some ideas during their Friday work session on how the county should spend the $451,000 it received as a part of the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act.
Commission Chair Tim Stoll felt strongly about seeing funds distributed to the Branch County Sheriff’s Department.
Commissioner Tom Mathew agreed with Stoll and he pointed out other departments that could use financial help.
Following a suggestion from Stoll, Norman said he will get in contact with departments to see who would be interested in the funds.
He is expected to have a report ready for the Commissioners next work session on April 21.
Has anyone considered that a portion of these funds should be set aside for substance abuse treatment programs ? With the number of marijuana dispensaries in our area, there is bound to be an increase of abuse cases, and let’s face it, not all use is truly for medical purposes… Local law enforcement agencies should also receive a large portion of these funds, and I would at least hope that marijuana involvement is tracked in crime statistic reports. While it may not be illegal to use marijuana, it still is illegal to commit crime. Would be interesting to know how many traffic accidents, how many robberies, how many assaults, etc. are marijuana related.