Recreational pot shops are now allowed in second Kent County city

KENT COUNTY, MI – Businesses can now apply to grow and sell recreational marijuana in Cedar Springs, making the city of 3,600 the second in Kent County to begin accepting applications.

Cedar Springs City Council approved regulatory and zoning ordinances June 11, outlining some of the city’s rules for operating recreational marijuana dispensaries, processing facilities, growing operations and other businesses associated with the industry.

Both ordinances were passed 6-1 by city council, with Councilman Jerry Gross voting against them, City Manager Mike Womack told MLive.

The city will consider marijuana business applications for a special land use permit and a city license only after the applicant secures prequalification for a state operating license from Michigan’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency.

Businesses that meet state qualifications can submit their applications until July 16 for the Aug. 11 Planning Commission meeting.

“The City is excited to work with the marihuana industry to bring high-quality jobs to Cedar Springs while simultaneously providing citizens with access to products with both medical and recreational uses,” Womack said in a prepared statement.

“The City Council and Planning Commission put a lot of work into developing these ordinances that reflect the will of the 59% of Cedar Springs voters that voted in favor of IL 1 of 2018.”

About 59 percent of Cedar Springs voters OK’d the measure to legalize recreational marijuana in the city in the November 2018 election. It was opposed by 39 percent of voters.

The city did not put a cap on the number of licenses it will approve for dispensaries, growers and processors allowed in the city, according to a news release issued by city council.

The city council has not yet set a license fee for Cedar Springs marijuana businesses, Womack told MLive. But the city manager said it will likely be “in line” with the majority of municipalities, including Lowell, which have set their fee at $5,000 per license.

Marijuana businesses are not allowed to open within 1,000 feet of any K-12 school, meaning businesses are not permitted on Main Street, south of Ash Street, or on Muskegon east of the White Pine Trail, according to city regulations.

Businesses are also prohibited from sharing a parcel with a residential establishment.

Hours of operation for marijuana businesses will be limited to 8:45 a.m. through 9:15 p.m.

More information on the city’s licensing process and zoning requirements will become available in the next few weeks, according to the city council website.

The only other cities in Kent County allowing recreational marijuana businesses are Grand Rapids and Lowell.

The county’s first recreational pot shop opened March 13 in Lowell, drawing large crowds to Meds Cafe which offers 16 strains of marijuana flower, some edibles, THC extracts, smoking paraphernalia and more.

Two other West Michigan recreational marijuana shops opened that same day – KKind in Kalamazoo Township and Bella Sol Wellness Centers in Muskegon.

While Grand Rapids will allow recreational marijuana facilities, city leaders won’t be taking license applications for recreational marijuana shops until at least Oct. 20.

Grand Rapids City Commission had originally planned to start accepting applications on April 20. But commissioners voted in March to wait six more months, stating they needed more time to evaluate the system the city put in place to allow medical marijuana businesses

More on MLive:

Kent County’s first recreational marijuana shop draws large crowd

Want to start a recreational marijuana business in Michigan? Rules have been released

Recreational marijuana business can’t come to Grand Rapids until at least late 2020