Houghton City Council Postpones Vote On Marijuana Ordinances

Houghton City Council postpones vote on Marijuana ordinances.

Faced with an absence of three of the seven members, the Houghton City Council held its public hearings, but took no action on three proposed Marijuana ordinances. 

The ordinances, if approved, would set up the rules and regulations for the establishment of retailers for the now lawful sale of recreational marijuana. 

In the public hearings there was no opposition to the sale within the city, but participants added opinions on the rules.  The current ordinance, as written would allow for only one retailer in the city, opinion from the public was to allow more than one retailer to allow for competition and to eliminate 1000 foot rule for separation of the businesses. 

Both of these rules are in the original ordinances that set up marijuana sales over 10 years ago and were not changed in the amended standards. 

City Manager Eric Waara recommended that the vote be postponed and the council agreed, putting off the votes until at least the next meeting on March 25. 

“With a decision as important as this for Houghton, I felt that it would be better that this is placed in front of a full council. Under Robert’s Rules, only one negative vote could kill any progress of this legislation tonight.” 

When the council reconvenes the adoption could still be slow. 

“As the council has put the writing of these amendments upon the planning commission, if they were to agree with the public’s recommendations, the commission would have to then do the rewrite before final passage,” Waara said. 

The council did pass a resolution to be able to have the issuance of up to $800,000 of bonds to finance the local match for the planned new pier by the Portage Lake District Library. 

This clears the way for construction to start later this year.