KALAMAZOO (WKZO AM/FM) — Medical Marijuana providers from all over the region appeared at a forum on Kalamazoo’s plans for dealing with the new state regulations, and they heard things they did not like.
They learned zoning for dispensaries will be limited and dispersed around the city.
They learned that Kalamazoo has a relatively low concentration of card holders, and that the city will be requiring quite a bit from license applicants, just to qualify to get into a lottery for seven dispensary licenses.
City officials got suggestions from the crowd on how to reduce the field of candidates. One suggested that it be limited to Kalamazoo city residents. Another said that candidates should be able to prove they have one or two million dollars in capital they can use to open the business. They were told both ideas would be illegal discrimination.
City Attorney Clyde Robinson cleared up one misconception…the way its structured most of the tax revenue will stay in Lansing.
He says they could receive $75,000 tops, which won’t even pay for one Public Safety Officer.
A second forum is scheduled for Thursday afternoon at 2 pm at City Hall.
