Petoskey approves ballot language for recreational marijuana in November election

PETOSKEY — Recreational marijuana will officially appear on the ballot in November after city council approved the ballot language Monday night.

If voters approve the ordinance amendment in November, recreational marijuana retailers will be permitted within the City of Petoskey.

A petition was presented from Prosperity Petoskey to the council in July to amend the city’s existing ordinance to allow adult use of recreational marijuana retailers. The application process would require applicants to include a copy of a permit to operate a medical marijuana provisioning center.

A marijuana provisioning center is a business with a medical marijuana license that sells to patients with medical cards. A marijuana retailer sells to anyone age 21 or older.

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Currently, Petoskey allows up to three medical marijuana establishments. In 2020, Petoskey voters approved an initiative to ban recreational marijuana facilities unless otherwise determined in another ballot issue. This took the decision-making power over marijuana away from council and ensured it would be in the hands of the voters.

In its Aug. 1 meeting, when facing the decision to approve the ordinance or put it to the vote, councilors agreed that this issue should be decided on by the people and placed it on the November ballot.

The exact language of the ballot initiative says the the proposed ordinance would amend the existing ordinance to, “allow and provide for the licensing of adult-use (recreational) marihuana retailers; and Limit adult-use (recreational) marihuana retailers to those applicants who obtain a permit to operate a medical marihuana provisioning center in the City of Petoskey; and Provide penalties for violations.”

During the Aug. 1 meeting, some citizens asked that council decide on regulation and zoning restrictions before placing the initiative on the ballot. However, the city charter required that council approve the ordinance or put it on the ballot after receiving the petition. Additionally, the deadline for submitting ballot language for the November election was 4 p.m. on Aug. 16.

Due to the requirement that recreational retailers submit a medical license with their applications, regulations for retailers will likely be similar to those on medical facilities, but exact restrictions will be determined after the election if the initiative is approved.

Mayor John Murphy did ask that the planning commission prepare directives for recreational retailers in the case the initiative passes.

Contact reporter Tess Ware at tware@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on Twitter, @Tess_Petoskey 

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Ballot language approved for Petoskey recreational marijuana proposal