It’s not clear where the initiative originated, but voters in Howell declined the opportunity to welcome recreational marijuana on Nov. 5.
In a close call, 52.42% of voters struck down the proposal, placed on the ballot after a Michigan Court of Appeals decision ruled in favor of a group called “Open Stores in Howell.”
Last year, an attorney named Anderson Grandstaff wrote a letter to Howell City Manager Erv Suida, saying he represented an organization planning to circulate petitions in support of a recreational marijuana ballot initiative in Howell. He did not name his client.
The Daily has been unable to verify who the individuals behind the proposal are, or even whether they’re local. Earlier this year, Grandstaff claimed his client “has strong grassroots support.”
The city opted out of allowing marijuana businesses in 2018, soon after voters statewide approved the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act.
Then-Mayor Nick Proctor said the decision would give “… the state time to craft their regulatory framework.” He said once regulations were in place, the city could choose to opt in — but that never happened.
Suida told The Daily earlier this year there’s been two other attempts for a ballot proposal, but both failed to collect enough signatures.
The initiative would’ve established “an application process, selection criteria, licenses, fees, and regulations for two adult-use retail cannabis establishments in the city,” according to official ballot language.
This story was published by MSN