Review of medical marijuana facility apps picking up in city

Pontiac’s city clerk’s office is releasing new information on its review process of 108 applications for medical marijuana businesses in the city.

This spring, an initial 90-day review window was floated, but not committed to, by the clerk’s office. August will mark two years since the voter-led initiative to bring 20 medical marijuana dispensaries to Pontiac passed by one vote.

Garland Doyle, interim city clerk, said that while the review process officially began last month it’s likely going to take more than 90days. Legal and financial experts assisting with the review were officially brought on at the end of May. City hall reopened after months of closure on July 1.

“I understand that many applicants have spent endless hours in preparing (their) application and have made major philanthropic commitments and economic investments in our city,” Doyle stated in a letter to the applicants. “It has never been my intent to draw out the review process but it would be dereliction of my duties as the city clerk to not ensure that each application receives an in-depth and through review.”

Only five of the applications are for businesses other than provisioning centers including three applications for grow facilities, one application for a processing facility and one application for a secure transporter. There’s nine review phases outlined for each application. Approximately 18 of the 108 applications are in review phase two while the rest are in review phase one.