QUINNESEC — Breitung Township Board on Monday reaffirmed its ordinance that prohibits marijuana dispensaries from operating within the township, despite the potential revenue from such businesses.
Trustee Ben Peterson had asked to review the ordinance, pointing out the state revenues the businesses have generated for Norway and Iron Mountain.
The two municipalities this year will receive $118,172 and $59,086, respectively, through the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act, according to a Michigan Department of Treasury news release in March, while Dickinson County stood to receive $177,259 in adult-use marijuana distributions.
Lume and Rize have dispensaries in Iron Mountain, while Higher Love Cannabis opened in Norway last summer.
“I just think that it is a lot of money that we are passing on that could be used for roads, fire trucks or whatever. It is a lot of money that we are stepping over because some people feel it should not be in the area,” Peterson said. “I just think it is worth the discussion.”
Peterson also noted the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Department and local police have stated they’ve seen no crime problems from having the dispensaries.
But Supervisor Denny Olson was opposed to altering what he called a
