(WWJ) - Metro Detroit voters came out in force one particular subject on Tuesday, rejecting proposals that would have allowed marijuana stores in four local cities.
The proposals, which were voted down overwhelmingly in Grosse Pointe Park, Birmingham, Rochester and Keego Harbor, comes after years of fighting against allowing marijuana retailers to cash in, even after other communities across Michigan reaped in on sales tax collected on cannabis sales.
In Birmingham, 74% of voters rejected the proposal compared to 26% of voter who supported it. The proposal -- if passed -- would've allowed one medical marijuana sales outlet and a second one for recreational sales.
None of the other cities came close to passing their pot proposals, either.
"Rochester was the biggie --89% of the vote 'No' on recreational pot stores. Grosse Pointe Park was at about 78%. Birmingham 74% and Keego Harbor, about 61%. Those are the tallies," WWJ's Mike Campbell reported.
In Grosse Pointe Park, voters went to the polls on two questions concerning marijuana sales, and they said no to both. A whopping 77.63% of voters were against the "Open Stores Ordinance," which would've permitted two sales outlets for recreational marijuana while 66.72% voted 'No" against the City Cannabis Licensing charter amendment. The amendment would've cleared the way for two sales outlets for recreational marijuana, but only if a licensing process was established.
In Keego Harbor, residents voted 'No" against three different avenues that would've allowed pot sales -- 53.49% voting against allowing one retailer, 61.37% said 'No" to allowing a vote at the next general election to decide on sales and 60.5% were against permitting two retailers with licensing rules.
In Rochester, voters were strongly against their marijuana proposals with an overwhelming amount of votes, precisely 89.24%, rejecting three "adult-use" stores selling recreational marijuana while 87.38% of votes shot down against allowing a licensing and application process that would've allowed three retailers of recreational marijuana.
Grosse Pointe Park Mayor Michelle Hodges, who just got elected to her second term, told Campbell she was proud residents for "standing firm" on the issue.
"We voted it down because we have a choice," Hodges said. "We have a choice between vibrancy or something else and our community chose vibrancy and there are better uses that are going to contribute to that and I'm proud of our community for standing strong on that issue and giving a firm 'No.' We can do better and that's what we're striving for."
Re-elected Birmingham City Commissioner Brad Host said he agrees with the 'no' vote from residents, stating there's enough pot shops around and not permitting sales within the city is "probably a better choice" for the traditionally conservative area, Campbell reported.