DETROIT (WWJ) - Detroit has officially passed an ordinance that will allow cannabis shops to open across the city after two hours of deliberation on Tuesday afternoon.
The Detroit City counsel approved three amendments to pass the Adult-Use Marijuana Ordinance 8-1 that will allow shops and dispensaries within city limits; they hope to begin awarding 100 licenses in phases over the next three months.
WWJ's Ryan Marshall said the adult use amendment eases business licensing restrictions for many Detroiters and allows greater equity in the application access for recreational marijuana business licenses as long as residents follow certain guidelines.
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The ordinance has taken several years and multiple revisions to come to fruition; Michigan voters first approved the legal use of recreational marijuana back in 2018.
In 2020, the council approved an ordinance that would have given special preference to certain residents under what was known as the “Detroit Legacy” certificate. Those applying to open marijuana businesses could qualify as a “legacy” if they had lived in Detroit for 15 of the last 30 years; had lived in Detroit for 13 of the last 30 years and were low-income; or lived in Detroit for 10 of the last 30 years and had a prior marijuana-related conviction.
That ordinance was struck down by a judge last June, who ruled that it gave an “unfair, irrational, and likely unconstitutional advantage to long-term Detroit residents over all other applicants."
The ordinance was then revised with language similar to the state’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency’s social equity program to allow benefits to be offered to all residents from disproportionately impacted communities, not just those from Detroit.
Supporters of the ordinance rejoiced, saying underserved communities can now begin to cash in on generational wealth.
"There are tons of social equity people who are just waiting on an opportunity to move forward, given an ordinance that allows us to do so, so I want to thank everybody who has come together to put forth that strong ordinance," Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield said on Tuesday.
Opponents were not as thrilled, saying the ordinance still disenfranchised certain neighborhoods from cannabis business opportunities.
"It does not provide for generational, economic equity for our residents throughout the community especially in District 3 and 4 that is disproportionally impacted by this industry," said long resident and community leader Sandra Turner Handy.
Detroit City Council President Pro Tem James Tate said no ordinance will be perfect and there are opportunities to amend this legislation in the future if need be.
City officials have yet to put forth an official vote on when the ordinance would take affect; the Civil Rights, Inclusion, and Opportunity Department must first come forward with a recommended date.
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