Waterford trustees vote to open application period for two medical marijuana provisioning centers after heated debate

The Waterford Township Board of Trustees voted to open an application period for two medical marijuana provisioning-center licenses on a roll-call vote after an extended meeting and public-comment session.

Trustees approved the resolution to accept applications despite repeated concerns from residents, the Waterford School District and some trustees that adding licenses could increase youth exposure, legal risk and enforcement costs. The vote followed hours of testimony from local dispensary owners, attorneys and community members who offered conflicting data on crime, traffic incidents and property values.

"Adding more dispensaries increases retail visibility and normalization for our youth," said a trustee who spoke at length about adolescent risks and cited national studies linking cannabis exposure to problems with attention, memory and mental health. School-district officials had submitted a letter opposing additional licenses and a regional research brief showing a localized decline in nearby home values in a Washington-state study.

Industry representatives urged caution on the board's part. "The township has been very supportive of our efforts," Rob Zora of Levels Cannabis said during public comment, asking trustees to reconsider opening applications as retailers face a contracting market and a new 24% wholesale tax that has already affected sales.

Chris Aiello, corporate attorney for Moses Roses, urged trustees not to allow additional stores and asked the board to consider a 2,500-foot buffer between retailers measured from property line to property line, citing pending Michigan legislation that could cap stores and past legal costs associated with licensing disputes.

Board supporters of opening the application period said the action only accepts applications — it does not automatically award licenses — and that accepting applications preserves municipal options while following state and local procedural requirements. One trustee emphasized that accepting medical applications is the first step; any recreational conversions would follow statutory processes and additional review.

The clerk noted operational constraints: the clerk's office will be busy this election year and must check renewals, attestations, insurance and other requirements for applicants. Trustees discussed timing and staff capacity; applicants would be accepted beginning April 6, with the clerk's office mailing ballot-related materials April 20.

The board also debated a motion to table the resolution to allow a public work session; the motion to table failed, and the resolution to open applications passed on roll call. One trustee attempted to register an abstention during the vote; other trustees questioned whether an abstention was procedurally allowed for that vote. The clerk recorded the final roll-call outcome and declared the motion passed.

Next steps: the township will accept applications as announced and process them under the township's ordinance and applicable Michigan law; trustees indicated that additional public discussion, planning commission review and legal review may follow as applications are evaluated.