Opposition toward Alpena’s medical marijuana ordinance
ALPENA, Mich. — At Monday night’s Alpena City Council meeting legal council for Green Buddha dispensary expressed strong opposition to the potential revision to Alpena’s medical marijuana ordinance.
The revision will allow a number of provisioning centers to operate in Alpena. The representative for Green Buddha asked that the city allow them and Lume Cannabis Company to open first for approximately one year before increasing the cap. The representative said this will allow the city to see how professional operators do business in this industry.
Mayor Matt Waligora said he understands the frustration but he is disturbed by some of the reasons for the opposition. Waligora said when someone in the industry takes all of the advocacy they have seen for years to get rid of the stigma of what medical marijuana can be used for legally and makes a statement contradictory to that, he takes offense.
Waligora said he supports medical marijuana and the businesses that are coming to Alpena. He adds despite his disagreement with the statements made by Green Buddha’s legal council, he is in favor of a great working relationship.
