“And in the meantime, we've lost businesses that survived because of Sunday alcohol sales to Indiana residents.” “We voted 57-43 in favor of recreational back them, so the township is in favor of it,” Patterson said.

That effort failed, so the two decided to go with the ballot initiative.Īnd if they can get the needed signatures, Patterson is hopeful voters will approve the measure, especially since township residents voted in favor of a statewide issue to legalize recreational marijuana in 2018. “Eventually, I think it’s going to be just about everywhere.” Cannabis ballot initiativeĪfter getting nowhere on her own, Patterson hired Arnold to see whether she could persuade township officials to allow cannabis businesses in the community. “A lot of places opted out initially, but many of them are changing their minds,” said Allison Arnold, a partner and director of legislative affairs for Cannabis Attorneys of Michigan. New cannabis dispensary: Former Lunker's in Edwardsburg gets new life with marijuana dispensary Today, there are two dispensaries operating in Edwardsburg in space that had previously been vacant. In Edwardsburg, village officials reversed course in 2019 and decided to allow adult-use stores because of softening attitudes toward cannabis as well as the potential for a ballot issue similar to the one Patterson is behind. Joseph County got $169,360, while Constantine received $112,906 and Sturgis got $56,453.Īnd that tax spigot won’t be shutting down anytime soon. Locally, Berrien County was the big winner, gaining $508,080 for its general fund while Benton Harbor received $56,453, Buchanan got $282,277 and Niles gained $169,360.Ĭass County received $225,813, while Edwardsburg and Cassopolis each received $112,906. Earlier this year, it sent $42.2 million back to cities, villages, townships and counties based on the number of licensed stores and microbusinesses they have. In addition, local cities, villages and counties in southwestern Michigan have benefitted from the 10% adult-use marijuana excise tax that is collected each year by the state. Revitalization: Marijuana boom brings jobs and new life to factories, storefronts in southwest Michigan Even a year ago, officials in Niles and Buchanan were claiming the creation of about 150 jobs in each community, in addition to the increased property valuations that have followed the millions of dollars in investments needed to build or refurbish stores, as well as grow and production facilities.

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