More than three years after recreational marijuana was legalized in the state, communities continue to figure out their strategies.
Many communities jumped as soon as possible into rewriting ordinances and welcoming dispensaries and grow facilities. But others, like Scottville in Mason County, chose to hang back and see how it worked before rethinking their plan.
“It’s going to attract more interest, more eyes in town, more attention and I don’t think any of that is a negative thing,” said James Newkirk, Scottville city manager.
Newkirk has only been city manager for almost a year but the Scottville native has seen it all.
“I watched the town decline,” said Newkirk, “I watched the businesses leave as Ludington and Pere Marquette Township grew.”
Newkirk says the city has about 40% of its storefronts empty. There’s a need for new business. and in Michigan, maybe the fastest growing industry is marijuana.
“It’s hard to ignore the amount of money,” said Newkirk, “It just is.”
Not only the sustainable store front business and jobs brought but each retail facility generates just about $56,000 in tax revenue for their host community.
“If you’re a community with two or three dispensaries or provisioning centers, that’s a lot of projects. That’s a lot of money coming into a small town,” said Newkirk.
Scottville is ready to vote to approve the new ordinance at their next meeting. Details were rewritten and drafted to allow their ordinance to stand over time but the commission is ready. It seems the industry is as well.
“There are no less than 10 companies that have contacted me over the last six months that are interested in coming in as soon as possible,” said Newkirk.
Timing is imperative. Scottville’s neighbors to the west, Ludington, are also a community rethinking their stance, creating a committee to review their own changes.
“I don’t think there’s a ticking clock,” said Newkirk, “Each community has to do what’s best for them and when you make your own decisions, then you need to be ready to live with your own consequences.”
© 2023 - 910 Media Group
