Hundreds of Michigan communities ban marijuana businesses

DETROIT (AP) — More than 250 Michigan communities have banned marijuana businesses just two months after the state became the first in the Midwest to legalise the drug for recreational use.

Some cities and townships have enacted temporary bans until the state creates regulations to govern the recreational marijuana industry, MLive reported.

The state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs has until December to issue rules.

Michigan voters in November endorsed recreational marijuana for adults who are at least 21 years old.

At least 80 municipalities have reached out to law firm Dickinson Wright for legal advice regarding recreational marijuana, said Jessica Wood, a lawyer in the firm’s municipal practice.

“The majority requested ordinances to enable them to consider ‘opting out’ for now,” Wood said.

“We don’t know how many have actually voted to opt out at this point, or how many may opt out now while continuing to take time to analyse the impact and understand what the new law requires and allows — in other words, to hit the pause button.”

Many of the state’s biggest cities, including Detroit and Lansing, haven’t passed any restrictions.

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