Council approves transfer of Tranquility Fields marijuana license to JARS Cannabis, one member objects

The Norway City Council on April 27 approved the transfer of a recreational and medical marijuana license from Tranquility Fields to JARS Ventures 20, LLC, doing business as JARS Cannabis, after reviewing the application and ordinance authority.

Legal counsel and staff said the city's ordinance permits a license transfer if the transferee submits the required materials. Grant, the council’s counsel, said the packet included the necessary information and that some municipalities handle transfers administratively while Norway’s ordinance brings transfers before council for transparency.

Marcel Petula, identified on the record as the vice president of operations for JARS, described the company’s footprint and community approach, saying JARS operates multiple locations in Michigan and has worked to be a community partner. "I've been at the company since 2019... we've gone on to open 33 locations in Michigan and 2 in Colorado," Marcel Petula said. He told council representatives he was present to answer questions and underscored a community-oriented approach.

Councilors discussed whether the transfer procedure bypassed a fresh open-application competitive rubric used when licenses were first issued. Several members said the ordinance permits the transfer but expressed that the original competitive process had been extensive and stressful; one councilor said those circumstances were an unknown factor in deciding whether to reuse the original award mechanism.

A motion to approve the transfer carried; recorded votes show one council member opposed the motion.