Sylvan Township revisiting its marijuana businesses ban

Sylvan Township will take another look at allowing marijuana businesses.

At this point, the township doesn’t allow them, but at the April 6 township board meeting it was decided the township should re-examine allowing these types of businesses.

In presenting this discussion item during the meeting, township treasurer Rod Branham said after seeing the most recent revenue (just over $5 million) divvied up and dispersed out by the state to different municipalities that allow these, he thought they should take another look at it, so he started doing some research.

Branham said things have settled around the state when it comes to the rules and regulations, which township clerk Kathleen Kennedy noted was one reason why the township would not allow these businesses several years ago.

She said when the township looked at these before it was still very early and the exact rules/regulations were not fully in place.

State law says the types of businesses allowed, if permitted by the local municipality and have a successful application, are: retailer/dispensary, growing operations, micro business (where individuals can grow up to 150 plants, process the material and sell it all at the same location), processor, secure transporter, and safety compliance facility.

After citing the negative impact alcohol has had on society and families, township supervisor David Brooks said he was in support of re-examining allowing marijuana businesses. He said legal marijuana might be a less harmful alternative to alcohol.

However, he also said the township should look at this very carefully before making any final decisions. He said at the moment he would support allowing regulated marijuana businesses, but they should think about this and discuss it as a township board and community.

Kennedy said when the township looked at these businesses several years ago it wasn’t the appropriate time to allow them, but now she said a re-examination may be in order, especially when considering the potential additional revenue it could produce for the township.

She said she probably wouldn’t support allowing all of the permitted businesses, but possibly some of them. She said the township could quietly support them while not upsetting any residential/neighborhood areas.

For Branham, the discussion should also consider location. Knowing that adding more water customers to its system will help the township overall, he said as they could discuss regulating them in a way through ordinance where they would need to connect to the water system.

Brooks said over the next month the township will look at this and possibly have an ordinance drafted for review next’s month meeting.