“This is an issue that has been discussed in our city the last four years or so,” she continued, “and it wasn’t until the new mayor took office that we started seeing this happen. I never imagined this issue (recreational marijuana) would cause so much tension between council members. “It makes me sad to sit through these meetings lately. “Honestly, I am very disappointed,” Cooper said. The Tribune followed up with 2019 City Council candidate and marijuana proponent Jamie Cooper, as well as local business owner Erin Lyon. Several members of the community weighed in on the Facebook comments section and on their personal accounts after Monday’s meeting. Ultimately, the council approved the first reading of the two ordinance changes that would allow for recreational marijuana to be sold by dispensaries in the city. There was some concern from the city’s attorney, Tom Forshee, that the owners of the businesses might view this behavior as the police partaking in illegal searches and seizures. The mayor suggested that this particular clause should allow for law enforcement to be able to conduct random inspections of facilities during regular business hours. In the 2018 November election, the statewide Proposition 1 that ultimately decriminalized recreational marijuana in Michigan, was approved by a majority (55.5 percent) of Grand Haven voters 3,084-2,473.Īs part of the ordinances being approved Monday, there was some protections added in for allowing law enforcement to search a marijuana facility. She has also said she disapproved of it in Grand Haven because she did not think the majority of residents would want it in their community. McNally has repeatedly expressed concerns with recreational marijuana sales in the city because of the potential legal issues it might open the city up to since the laws surrounding it are continuing to develop. In response, McNally said she believed Cummins was misrepresenting her position and that she “took issue with that.” We welcome all comments, and it seems like you have a problem with folks coming and speaking to us. We have business owners who are here who don’t live in our city. “I appreciate folks coming to talk to us whether they live here or not. “Mayor, you seem to have an issue with folks coming to speak with us,” Cummins said to her. Later, Cummins told McNally he thought her behavior toward Bartley was disrespectful. “I hope you know that you don’t have to answer any questions you feel you don’t want to have to answer,” Cummins said to Bartley. “This would help support the medical cannabis industries that have already been approved, and you would reflect the will of the voters.”Īfter a number of pointed questions from Mayor Catherine McNally regarding Bartley’s employment and who he represents, Councilman Ryan Cummins stepped in. “I strongly urge you as a council to vote yes on adult-use cannabis in the city of Grand Haven,” Bartley said. Bartley identified himself as a former planner for the city of Grand Rapids who helped to issue the medical marijuana ordinance there, and is now a consultant who works with the marijuana industry in Michigan. Video of the interaction can be viewed on the city’s Facebook page.Įarlier in the meeting, sparks began to fly between members of the council when Landon Bartley from Grand Rapids spoke to the council on the topic of marijuana. In response, McLaughlin can be heard muttering to Fritz, “What a piece of s- you are.” “I’ll have to go with the flow, even though my vote wasn’t bought,” he said.

After accepting and winning the election, such council member wanted to fast-track this through. But we have a council member who accepted money from an individual who is the owner of a marijuana facility, business, who would benefit from the change we’re having here. “That’s what you’re elected for is to do the right thing. McLaughlin has said publicly that the $500 did not “buy” his vote on this or any other issue. While running for council, McLaughlin accepted a $500 campaign donation from the co-owner of the New Standard medical marijuana dispensary, Aaron Smith. Fritz said he felt McLaughlin should recuse himself from the vote. Longtime Councilman Mike Fritz let it be known he took issue with Councilman Kevin McLaughlin participating in the discussion. GRAND HAVEN - A vote Monday night to approve the first reading of a pair of ordinance amendments related to recreational marijuana led to one Grand Haven city councilman accusing another of selling his vote.

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