Michigan localities are saying ‘no’ to recreational marijuana

Some Michigan communities are already prohibiting adult-use marijuana businesses, a little more than a week after voters in the state approved legalization of recreational cannabis.

According to various newspaper reports, Niles City in southwestern Michigan and Pinckney village in the southeastern part of the state have decided to opt out, at least for now. St. Joseph in southwestern Michigan is expected to do the same.

Meanwhile, the Detroit Free Press reported Tuesday that officials at colleges across the state say marijuana won’t be allowed on campuses. That’s because they don’t want to jeopardize federal funding since marijuana is still illegal federally.

Michigan’s new recreational marijuana law takes effect next month. Municipalities could decide to opt-in later but, if the state’s MMJ industry is an indication, many jurisdictions will choose to prohibit rec MJ at least initially.

MLive.com, citing state figures, reported that 108 communities in Michigan have opted out of the state’s medical marijuana program.

Still, despite early holdouts, Marijuana Business Daily projects that Michigan’s rec MJ market will reach $1.4 billion-$1.7 billion in annual sales within several years.

– Associated Press and Marijuana Business Daily