Publication select ▼EASTPOINTE — It took several months of discussion for Eastpointe to approve its recreational marijuana ordinance, but it’s not the same ordinance that was originally proposed.
In 2021, the City Council passed an ordinance allowing medical marijuana facilities to open in Eastpointe. In 2022, a committee was formed to review and approve three licenses, which went to Holistic Health Wayne, 21145 Gratiot Ave.; Moses Roses, 17375 E. Eight Mile Road; and Common Citizen, 24545 Gratiot Ave.
Even though they were granted medical licenses, none of the businesses opened. Under the ordinance that was passed March 4, the three businesses’ licenses were converted from a medical license to a recreational license.
The three businesses who were approved for licenses were given a deadline of Dec. 31 to be open and operational. Additionally, a fourth license will be granted to another business.
During the first public comment portion of the meeting, Mark Schmier, a representative from Holistic Health, asked the City Council to consider extending the deadline.
Factors such as weather, acquisition and storage of materials, and possible tariffs might affect the business’ ability to open by the deadline, he said.
“Nothing would please us more than to accommodate the proposed target completion date of Dec. 1,” he said. “I can’t speak for others or what the scope of their work is, but I know ours is pretty extraordinary. Our word means everything, and we would not want to make a commitment that we’d be unable to keep.”
His contractor, Jason Abraham, agreed with Schmier, also citing frost laws and weather variables that could delay construction.
“When Mark called me to ask if I could get this done by Dec. 1, I had to be completely honest with him. I would love to get it done by then,” Abraham said. “In fact, I will make more money if we do finish earlier. However, though, I don’t see it feasible.”
Eastpointe Mayor Michael Klinefelt didn’t agree to move the deadline.
“There are other businesses that are very interested, but there are not as many licenses up for grabs, and I know some people from the Planning Commission were disappointed in the level of commitment from the businesses, so I’m not willing to change,” he said.
Besides making it a conversion ordinance for the three businesses, while the ordinance originally allowed for businesses to be open from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. during the week and until 11 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, City Council also voted to extend the operating hours Thursday through Sunday until midnight.
