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Commission votes to resend marijuana‑business ordinance after vendors camp out and application strategy raised fairness concerns
Summary
City staff recommended rescinding the May 16 adoption of the marijuana business ordinance to revise application rules after learning groups planned to submit multiple applications from a single spot; commissioners voted to resend the ordinance to add application protections and possibly use third‑party application processes.
Mount Clemens commissioners voted June 6 to resend the recently adopted marijuana‑business ordinance so staff can revise application and submission rules after city staff learned of tactics that could unfairly advantage some applicants.
City staff told the commission that individuals had begun camping out in front of City Hall and that a firm represented to staff and others its intention to submit multiple applications for multiple locations from a single place in line. Staff warned the strategy could lead to litigation and asked the commission to 'call a timeout' to adjust the ordinance or the application process. The clerk and city attorney said the commission could not impose submission rules beyond the ordinance without redoing the action.
Allison Arnold, an attorney appearing by Zoom who represents licensed cannabis businesses, urged the commission not to delay the process and noted the ordinance became effective May 30. She said roughly 40 properties were likely to be subject to application and asked the city to proceed. Staff said they were exploring two options: contracting with a third‑party application processor used by other communities or drafting ordinance language to limit how multiple applications could be submitted from a single filer.
After discussion, the commission voted to resend the May 16 motion approving second reading and adoption to allow staff time to craft revisions and return at a near‑term meeting. Staff indicated they expected to return within one or two meetings with proposed changes.
