MERIDIAN TWP. — With voters opting against outright banning recreational marijuana businesses, township officials now are hoping people who want to comment on the future of recreational marijuana in the township will speak out in December.
The Meridian Township Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing at its 7 p.m. Dec. 12 meeting to take input on updating the township’s zoning ordinance to account for recreational marijuana establishments.
“It’s just the first step,” Meridian Township Community Planning and Development Director Tim Schmitt said. “So hopefully we’ll keep this thing moving forward and get public input and let the board make a decision.”
Meridian Township currently prohibits all recreational marijuana establishments under an ordinance adopted in 2019. Medical marijuana is allowed in certain areas with licensing and permitting, but there are no open medical marijuana facilities or active licenses.
In August, the grassroots organization Keep Meridian Safe, which opposed allowing recreational marijuana businesses in the township, spearheaded efforts to get a proposal on the ballot that would have prohibited the establishments. After a September recount, the proposal narrowly lost by six votes: 6,153-6,147.
While marijuana establishments remain prohibited under the 2019 ordinance, the township board has since directed staff to work on what a new ordinance allowing the establishments might look like, with the hope of receiving recommendations…
Original Author Link click here to read complete story..
