This is a call to Mt. Pleasant Democrats.
The medical marijuana ad hoc committee’s recommendation was approved 6-1. The Planning Commission unanimously voted for it. The residents of Mt. Pleasant overwhelmingly supported it.
The opposition wanted us to wait a year before we passed this ordinance, to limit the number of licences in all 5 tiers, to require bigger buffer zones (from schools and such) than are required for pharmacies, and to keep all marijuana facilities out of the downtown district.
For 10 years we have been battling Republicans in Lansing to get to a place where marijuana facilities are licensed by the state. There have been lots of compromises. A significant number of supporters believe that expungement of non-violent marijuana records should be part of this new industry. But they didn’t get it. The opposition wanted there to be only 10 huge grows in the whole state. But they didn’t get that either. One of the most contested issues regarding the marijuana industry is if caregivers are allowed to supply dispensaries with their overages. This was a hill to die on for the opposition as well as for supporters, but a compromise was reached.
Class A licenses are the only license limited at $10,000, the only license that requires a reasonable amount of liquid start up capital, $30k. The compromise was this: Caregivers will not be allowed to supply dispensaries in any fashion. Instead, they are expected to give up all their caregiver cards and apply for a class A license. In 2016 there were 195 caregivers in Isabella County. The Mt. Pleasant City Commission, having a Democratic majority, only wants to allow at most three to get a license and continue to be able to provide a living for their families.
Let me tell you why I specify the fact that Democrats are making these decisions. Government can not work without compromise. It took years and some major contention, but we were still able to get a compromise, class A licenses. This was with a Republican majority in the House and the Senate in Lansing.
Some reason that the city commission doesn’t want to compromise at all. They are giving the opposition 100 percent of what they wanted. If you asked them they might tell you that the opposition doesn’t want this ordinance at all, so this is a compromise. If that is the case then why has the opposition never advocated against opting in?
The Michigan Democratic Party has a cannabis caucus.
Most experts agree that Dana Nessel’s historic victory over Pat Miles was due to the cannabis caucus. Chuck Schumer has come out in support. Cory Booker and Bernie Sanders co-sponsored a bill to end prohibition.
The city council of Seattle, Washington just announced they plan to expunge all non-violent marijuana convictions and drop pending charges. Dianne Feinstein recently announced her support. All throughout the country Democrats are supporting the people who support them.
Why is it that the Democrats on the Mt. Pleasant City Commission will not support the people who support them? Every single commissioner beside Mr. Kulik is on the record saying they support not only medical marijuana but full legalization.
So why is it that they will not put up even the slightest fight for the ad hoc committee’s recommendation? They are giving the opposition 100 percent of what they want. I only have one answer to this question: They think you will vote for them again regardless of their supporting us or not.
If the City Commission passes this ordinance allowing only three grow facility licenses, they are sending their fellow Democrats, who already voted for them once, the message that they don’t care what their constituents want or what their fellow party members want. There are plenty of Democrats who support the party’s platform and are willing to fight for the cannabis caucus. For the health and the unity of the Democratic Party I implore you to plead with the city council members and ask them to support the ad hoc committee’s recommendation. If they don’t, never vote for any of these council members again, in any position they might run for. There are better options, there are Democrats who actually support the people who support them.
Brandon L. McQueen
Mt. Pleasant