Residents packed a town hall meeting earlier this month to express concerns about a surge in marijuana dispensaries in their lakefront community.
By the end of 2026, New Buffalo Township will have nearly one marijuana dispensary for every 70 residents. The township currently has 29 dispensaries with six more planned.
According to the state of Michigan’s Marijuana License Counts report, no other township in Michigan has as many dispensaries as New Buffalo. The community now rivals major cities like Detroit and Ann Arbor as one of the state’s marijuana hotspots.
Revenue vs. community impact
While the township will earn over $1.4 million in 2026 from marijuana excise tax revenue, residents said the dispensaries do more harm than good for the community.
“The density, visibility, and tone of the dispensaries in and around New Buffalo is creating a stain on the community image we have worked so hard to build,” said Denise Churchill, a New Buffalo resident. “Long known as a welcoming lakeside town, family friendly, small business focused, and appealing to visitors seeking charm, New Buffalo is now known as a weed destination. The weed capital of the Midwest or New Puffalo.”
Traffic safety concerns
Residents complained of rampant littering and decreased property values around the dispensaries but emphasized traffic risks associated with customers from Indiana, Illinois and Ohio.
“The countless marijuana shops in New Buffalo surrounding Exit 1 and along U.S. 12 are extremely dangerous for drivers, especially for teen drivers with less experience such as myself,” said Charlee Churchill, a New Buffalo resident. “Cars coming off the Exit 1 do not stop at the stop sign. Near both Exit 1 and along U.S. 12, cars do not use turn signals. They speed, abruptly slam on brakes, and swerve in and out of lanes constantly.”
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