Although the outcome of the Presidential election remains in doubt nationally, marijuana businesses and advocates won overwhelmingly in Michigan this year. For those scoring at home, we call it seven “yeas” and one “nay.”
More specifically, marijuana initiatives passed in six communities. Lake Orion, Port Huron, Pinckney, Three Oaks Township, Ovid Township, and Belleville join the growing list of municipalities that will permit marijuana businesses. In the Village of Northport, voters rejected an initiative that would have overturned prior enactments of the Village and banned marijuana businesses. It appears that only Osceola County’s Village of Tustin enacted a ban this year.
Our internal tracking list now shows a total of 202 Michigan cities, townships and villages that have approved either medical or adult use businesses, or both. That’s roughly 11% of Michigan’s 1,773 local governments.
Outside of Michigan, voters in New Jersey, Arizona, Mississippi, Montana, and South Dakota passed legalization measures in one form or another. The public demand for legal marijuana access continues to grow. And in our estimation, the longer the Presidential election remains undecided, the more voters may wish to turn to marijuana for relief!