Cities and townships will be able to ban commercial recreational marijuana facilities within their borders.
Michigan's new marijuana law legalizing the possession and use of recreational marijuana is expected to go into effect on December 6th.
But local governments will have the option of opting out of parts of the law.
Chris Johnson is with the Michigan Municipal League. He said local communities can ban the operation of recreational facilities within their borders but it will require communities to pass an ordinance.
“They would have to say no by way of an ordinance. They’d have to pass an ordinance. So they’d have to discuss it, have to debate the merits, and then vote one way or the other.”
Johnson said the opt-out is a change from Michigan’s recreational marijuana law.
“It’s a little bit different than the current medical marijuana law which requires you to opt in rather than opt out. It is a change and some local communities may not realize that.”
Cities and townships won’t be able to opt out of individuals legally possessing or using marijuana.
City managers in Petoskey and Charlevoix did not respond to our request for comment on whether they would pursue an opt-out ordinance.
Alpena City Manager Greg Sundin said a possible ordinance was being looked at.
In Mount Pleasant, the City Manager said: “staff are in the process of researching the options in the new law.”