Politics & Government

Dispensary Becomes Topic in New Baltimore

New Baltimore City Council has engaged in long debates about medical marijuana cultivation.

The latest council medical marijuana cultivation discussion in New Baltimore acknowledged a controversial dispensary's plans to open in the city.

Without directly naming the business, Councilman Ken Butler said its desire to move to the community while a medical marijauna ordinance is being drafted "makes it incredibly difficult."

He referred Monday night to the business "that looks like a super head shop," saying "that's not what we need." The conversation came as council extended a medical marijuana moratorium for 60 days, with plans to mull over proposed ordinances for cultivation in upcoming weeks. Council and Planning Commission officials have been on the same page about allowing industrial growth but have disagreed on residential growth.

Find out what's happening in New Baltimore-Chesterfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Butler and Councilman Jeffrey Christie have been proponents of allowing cultivation in homes with restrictions while some say it could lead to decreased property values and crime.

Big Daddy's Hydroponics announced last month that it planned to open in a vacant building near the police station on Green Street.

Find out what's happening in New Baltimore-Chesterfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The business, formerly on Gratiot near 24 Mile Road in Chesterfield, was embroiled in litigation with Chesterfield and the state over allegations it violated zoning laws and was a public nuisance. Much of the case centered on the legal interpretation of the Medical Marihuana Act that a majority of voters passed in 2008.

But, in a letter to Macomb County Circuit Court Judge John Foster, Big Daddy's admitted zoning fault last winter and agreed to shut down its spacious township facility.

Owner Rick Ferris has since said that New Baltimore would be an ideal location for Big Daddy's.

"The difference between New Baltimore (and Chesterfield), there's half of them that feel that there should be safe access and there's half of them that feel like there shouldn't," he said late last month.


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