WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Constantine Village Council members have set a public hearing for input regarding Sunday marijuana sales and consumption lounges.
The hearing will take place at 7 p.m. Monday.
During its September meeting, the council heard a request from Dominic Iemma, founder of Prosper Cannabis Co., the largest cannabis provisioning center in southwest Michigan.
Iemma’s request centered on Sunday sales of marijuana. Prosper is a division of the Fawn River Cultivation Co. The two are located in the same building in the Industrial Park, creating a full seed-to-sale operation. Fawn River is a 60,000-square-foot facility with 20 growing rooms and processing areas.
The tavern is reopening. There are pot shops everywhere. Pot bars to follow. When do they underwrite brothels?
Village is making so much tax money from these vice businesses that they created three new taxing authorities that used to be in the general budget under council control. Plus $17 million in additional debt. Doubt a brothel tax could cover it. Especially with this council’s practice of generous business tax breaks.
Most of these pot businesses are owned by Ann Arbor and Detroit lawyers and former state legislators. Not locals. And guess who makes the most money? Hint. Not the village!
When it comes to former anti-pot legislaors – led by the GOP – look at how many are raking in the cash from setting up and lobbying to keep the businesses and profits out of local controll.
Most states have restrictions on how soon a legislator can start lobbying or setting up a business they voted to make legal. But the only restriction in Michigan is that if lawmakers leave office before the end of their term, they are prohibited from becoming a lobbyist until after the end of that term.
Michigan is ranked at the bottom of the ethical heap by the Center for Public Integrity, primarily because the state doesn’t require the governor or legislature to disclose financial information or release documents under the Freedom of Information Act. But the lack of any significant lobbying guidelines has also contributed to the state’s score of “F.”
Will it cut down on the meth users?