Recently the City Council in Detroit has approved a long-awaited law for the operation of recreational marijuana shops in the city.
The law comes with controversial provisions to give residents priority.
Detroit Councilman James Tate has led the initiative that guarantees no less than half of all licenses awarded in Detroit will go to legacy residents.
According to Tate, this plan would ensure residents will have an equitable opportunity to participate in an industry that’s estimated to yield $3 billion in annual sales. Council members approved the measure 9-0.
Tate has said that the regulations are the product of two years of work “to identify ways to make sure there’s success” for Detroiters.
“We’ve seen around the country where individuals who live in the municipality where the industry is located are frozen out and not having an opportunity to participate,” he said.
Former Detroit Lion Rob Sims, who is also the co-founder of the Michigan-based cannabis company Primitive, said he backs the law and believes Detroit is trying to “do the right thing.”
“We are looking forward to partnerships with social equity candidates,” he said. “I’m looking forward to touching more people in the city of Detroit with our medicine.”
