LANSING — From Thursday until Dec. 15, Lansing officials will accept applications for medical marijuana dispensaries, also known as provisioning centers.
The decision start of the 30-day window for applications comes about a week after City Clerk Chris Swope determined that petitions filed by Let Lansing Vote, a group that wants to put the new marijuana ordinance to a 2018 referendum vote, was short by 26 valid signatures.
Scoring criteria and application language was finalized after public input, according to a news release from Swope’s office. Applications are available online at www.lansingmi.gov/marijuana.
Applications in the first round have to be received by 5 p.m. Dec. 15 in the city clerk’s office. The office will accept cash, check, money order and credit card to pay for applications.
No more than 20 applicants will be selected in the first round, and will receive “conditional approval.” A license will be issued to operate in Lansing when the applicant also is approved by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, the release stated.
The ordinance details that there could be up to 25 provisioning centers within city limits. Five more applicants will be chosen after a second application period.
Estimates have put the number of dispensaries in the city as high as 70. The ordinance, passed in September, is meant to control both the number and location of medical marijuana businesses either through the cap on licenses for provisioning centers or through zoning restrictions.
Selection criteria include capital investment, number of jobs created, resident safety and business operating experience of the applicant.
A zero-to-15 point system is assigned to different criteria under two categories: business plan/job creation and financial stability/experience. A maximum of 15 points is assigned to “tangible capital investment in the city of Lansing.”
“We continue to move forward to ensure a fair selection process that allows me to select the most qualified applicants that provide long terms of benefit to the City in terms jobs and investment, but most importantly to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of the residents,” Swope said.
The clerk’s office is already accepting applications for other licenses associated with medical marijuana, including safety compliance, processor, secure transporter and grow facilities. Unlike dispensaries, there’s no limit on the number of these types of licenses.
Swope said no applications for any of those licenses have been received yet.
credit:lansingstatejournal.com