Benton Harbor Opts Out Of Recreational Marijuana For Time Being

bentonharborcityhall1-56
bentonharborcityhall1-56

After a few delays in the vote, the Benton Harbor City Commission has opted the city out of allowing recreational marijuana business to wait for the state to get rules and regulations in place. City Clerk Kimberly Thompson issued a statement Wednesday certifying the commission’s vote to approve the ordinance Monday night. Commissioner Juanita Henry made brief comments before the unanimous vote.

“This is something we’re putting in place to make sure that opportunities are local,” said Henry. “And that we put things in place that city really benefits from and not to take the vote away. This is temporary.”

Faced with a November 1 deadline on opting in or out, commissioners tabled the vote most recently on October 7 over concerns it was attached to the alcohol ordinance and referenced medical marijuana. The new ordinance stands alone from those.