The Chelsea City Council voted 5-2 to adopt an ordinance on second reading that prohibits marijuana establishments within the city at its March 18 meeting.
This decision follows Michigan voter’s approval of Prop 1 that allows:
- individuals 21 and older to purchase, possess and use marijuana and marijuana-infused edibles, and grow up to 12 marijuana plants for personal consumption.
- Impose a 10-ounce limit for marijuana kept at residences and require amounts over 2.5 ounces be secured in locked containers.
- Create a state licensing system for marijuana businesses and allow municipalities to ban or restrict them.
- Permit retail sales of marijuana and edibles subject to a 10% tax, dedicated to implementation costs, clinical trials, schools, roads, and municipalities where marijuana businesses are located.
- Change several current violations from crimes to civil infractions.
The City Council held two work sessions to discuss an ordinance, as well as a public hearing prior to the first reading of the ordinance. Numerous residents spoke and sent letters to the City Council urging them to prohibit marijuana retail sales in the city.
Prop 1 was approved by state voters in 2018.
Council Members Rick Catherman and Tony Ianelli voted against the ordinance.
The ordinance will go into effect in April.
To watch the full discussion before the vote, please click here. The video was produced by Randy Lee of RK Studios.
You going to close all the bars now….Idiots, no tax revenue for Chelsea
The majority of the people in the city voted yes on prop 1 and now the people they put in place to represent them say not in our city. Interesting, just an observation.
This ordinance means that Chelsea does not want marijuana businesses in the city. It does not change Prop 1 allowing adults 21+ to use legally use it recreationally. For all those who wish to do so, you’ll need to go to another city to buy it, but you can still use it at home in Chelsea.
Chelsea needs more progressives on Council. 😀