COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – An overflow crowd at the Coldwater Township Hall told a township committee looking into a state law on medical marijuana Tuesday night they want no part of it in their community.
The third information gathering meeting for the committee lasted for over three hours. It included some emotional statements from those in opposition.
One audience member asked what was the motivation to have such a facility in Coldwater Township. Others pointed out medical marijuana is against federal law.
The state has to have its licensing process in place by December 15, 2017. At that time, anyone applying for a license on the state level will have to have a copy of an ordinance from a local municipality that shows the local community has opted in.
No action has been taken yet by the Coldwater Township Board or its Planning Commission and the rules and regulations regarding the act have not yet been set by the state.
There are currently 654 medical marijuana card holders in Branch County. They are among 131,000 in the State of Michigan.
Sheriff John Pollack raised several concerns about the medical marijuana issue and he felt the township doesn’t have to do a thing right now.
Jeff Nemeth from ACT Laboratories said he has used medical marijuana to deal with injuries from a 2002 auto accident. He said the new law would put a tracking system in place. Nemeth added he was against recreational use and wanted the township to put no recreational use language in any ordinance they would consider.
Township Treasurer Mike Sowles pointed out that zoning will be a big factor.
Petitions opposed to a medical marijuana facility in the township with over 500 signatures on them were presented to the committee.
If the township decided to pursue medical marijuana, it would take nearly four months to have zoning ordinances be put together.
