Landon Bartley spent more than 14 years in various planning roles at the city of Grand Rapids, including as its cannabis administrator. He has since launched urban planning consulting firm Proxima Collective, which specializes in cannabis zoning, and currently serves as the interim president of the West Michigan Cannabis Guild, where he helps review local cannabis ordinances and advocates for local candidates and regulations that better serve operators.
Bartley spoke with MiBiz about why he left the public sector and how municipalities can create rational cannabis zoning rules.
Why did you transition from public-sector cannabis and planning work to more of an advocacy role in the private sector?
I was (Grand Rapids’) de facto marijuana administrator, at least for the medical program. I had been there for a while and I thought it was time to move on, but I also got to know the people in the industry and applicants who wanted to get into the industry locally but were struggling. I was wondering — from a government perspective and professionally — what is really going on here, and if there was any validity to these concerns (about cannabis) that may or may not be supported in fact.
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