Board expected to convert medical pot facilities to recreational vendors

Harrison Township officials tonight are expected to revise an ordinance that would allow medical marijuana facilities to begin working with recreational pot.

But the ordinance does not allow for the commercial sale of marijuana.

The lakefront community already allows for a number of medical marijuana growing and transport facilities. With the second reading of today’s ordinance, those facilities will not be able to grow and transport recreational pot, said township Supervisor Ken Verkest.

“What we’re saying is, if you’re already in an existing location that allows you to process and grow medical marijuana, if you’re already up and running, this will make it allowable to do the same with recreational,” Verkest said.

At this point, there are no plans to allow recreational marijuana in Harrison Township, he added.

Harrison Township, like Warren, is one of the few locations in Macomb County where the pot business is legal to pursue, excluding the sales. Most other communities have opted out of the business.

Voters in Michigan legalized recreational marijuana in 2018.

The Harrison Township Board of Trustees has 21 proposed locations already approved. So far, there is one transporter and five grow operations in business, according to the supervisor.

“These are industrialbased businesses. They don’t impact our residential neighborhoods,” Verkest said. “There’s a historical stigma still attached to pot in a lot of folks’ minds. It’s going to take time for people to be comfortable with it.”

So far, the township’s five pot businesses are bringing in $270,000 in annual permit fees.

The Board of Trustees meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. will be conducted electronically via video conference due to the COVID-19 public health crisis. Officials urge people to keep a 6-foot distance between each other in an effort to slow the migration of the highly infectious disease.

The public can view the meeting online via the Zoom.us website. The location is https://us04web. zoom.us/j/448576358; the meeting ID number is 448 576 358.

The Harrison Township Board of Trustees has 21 proposed locations already approved.