Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Ironwood schedules Monday hearing to opt out of marijuana business

By RALPH ANSAMI

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Ironwood — The Ironwood City Commission has scheduled a public hearing for Monday at 5:20 p.m. on an ordinance to prohibit marijuana establishments in the city.

The ordinance is designed to protect public health, safety and welfare, according to the Monday agenda.

After the hearing, the commission will act on the ordinance to prohibit marijuana establishments.

Recreational marijuana use was approved in Michigan in the November mid-term election, but cities can opt out of allowing marijuana establishments.

The city commission previously voted on opting out of Michigan’s medical marijuana licensing act, but it failed 2-2. Kim Corcoran was absent then, and she may be casting the deciding vote on Monday.

Michigan voters decided to legalize marijuana for adult recreational use by a 56-44 percent margin. The measure has taken effect, but pot won’t be available commercially for sale until around 2020.

Until then, adults can no longer be arrested for simple possession of marijuana.

In recommending the opt out option, city manager Scott Erickson wrote in a memo to commissioners that it is unclear when precisely the state will begin accepting applications for marijuana establishments.

“By adopting the ‘opt out’ ordinance, this will also provide the city commission and city planning commission time to potentially develop and hold public hearings on city ordinances that would regulate and properly permit marijuana establishments, if this is a direction the city commission would like to consider,” Erickson said.

In other business Monday, city commissioners will consider a proposal from Coleman Engineering Company for engineering design on the Country Club Road and Ayer Street for a Small Urban Grant project.

Holiday season bonuses will also be considered for city employees.