GRAND HAVEN – Jamie Cooper, the co-founder of Cannabiz Connection, won enough votes in the Grand Haven City Council primary election to make it on the November 5 General Election ballot. She will compete against three other primary winners for two council seats.
Cooper received 713 votes, good enough for third best behind incumbent Mike Fritz, with 1,135 votes, and Ryan Cummins with 782. Colin Beighley came in fourth with 273 votes.
Cooper, 37, is the owner of a local business she calls a “chamber of commerce for the marijuana industry.” She has advocated for the city’s adoption of a medical marijuana ordinance. She has been a member of the city’s Musical Fountain committee since 2016, as well as multiple marijuana industry and political action groups.
“I am so grateful for the support I have received from people in the community and for those who voted to help me move on to the general election,” Cooper said. “I am excited to spend the next few weeks meeting with voters and listening to some of their concerns. If people in this community want to see change, it’s important they get to know their candidate and show up to vote in November.”
She added: “We do need more pro-cannabis candidates running. The older generation has had power for so long. It’s time for the younger generation to step up and open up some of these municipalities. We live in a tourist town. Cannabis tourism is a huge opportunity.”