Planning Commission to continue working on possible new marihuana ordinance

The City of Grayling continues to explore the possibility of adjusting its ordinances to allow “medical marihuana facilities and adult use marihuana establishments” inside the city’s industrial zone and part of its general commercial zone.

The City of Grayling Planning Commission – during a regular meeting of the city council in March of 2022 – presented some of its research and progress on the possibility of changing the marihuana ordinance. Planning Commission officials said the City of Grayling told residents in 2019 – when it opted out of allowing marihuana businesses – that it would “re-examine” the issue at a later date. After the presentation, four of five council members said they were in favor of the Planning Commission continuing its work on possible marihuana ordinance changes.

The city’s current marihuana ordinance (19-17, effective March 8, 2019) says “Marihuana Establishments are prohibited within the boundaries of the City of Grayling. It is a violation of this Ordinance for a person to apply for a state or local license to operate a Marihuana Establishment within the boundaries of the City of Grayling. It is a violation of this Ordinance for a person to sell or display marihuana for sale in a public place within the boundaries of the City of Grayling. It is a violation of this Ordinance for a person to consume marihuana in a public place within the boundaries of the City of Grayling.”

During a regular meeting of the Grayling City Council on Monday, January 9, 2023, board members viewed the latest draft of a modified “medical marihuana facilities and adult use marihuana establishments” ordinance. City Manager Erich Podjaske said the draft contained recent changes made by the city attorney. 

According to the draft provided to the council on January 9, the proposed marihuana ordinance would “protect public health and safety through reasonable limitations on marihuana operations” and “protect residential neighborhoods by limiting the location and the concentration of types of medical marihuana facilities and adult use marihuana establishments to specific areas of the city” and “impose fees to defray and recover the cost to the city of the administration and enforcement costs associated with medical marihuana facilities and adult use marihuana establishments.” In its printed version, the draft is 13 pages long and contains numerous regulations.

Podjaske told the council that the city would have to change its zoning ordinance in addition to the marihuana ordinance before marihuana businesses would be allowed in the City of Grayling. 

According to the city’s zoning administrator, the “Planning Commission has agreed upon this use in the Industrial and the C-3B districts.” The C-3B district includes the I-75 Business Loop area south of Huron Street/M-72, according to a map in the city’s zoning ordinance. The Industrial district includes land in the Industrial Park, a sliver of property between Huron Street and the railroad tracks, and a piece of land at the northwest edge of the City of Grayling border, according to the map.

Podjaske said a council consensus was needed for the Planning Commission to proceed. Council members said to “go ahead with it.”

Podjaske said the process will eventually require public hearings if it continues to move forward toward possible ordinance changes through the city council.