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One of the more confusing things, probs, for #PortHuron voters is the marijuana proposal brought on by outside group Progress for Michigan 2020. Compelled on the ballot through court action this fall and conflicts with new city rules already allowing pot biz. 1/?
A thread.
A thread.
MJ moratoriums have been a thing in this area since I got here. First on medical facilities, and communities everywhere in the Thumb said they were waiting for state officials to clarify rules.
Meanwhile, there are still no pot shops anywhere in SCC. https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/news/local/2015/10/09/house-action-puts-algonac-marijuana-ordinance-hold/73680232/
Meanwhile, there are still no pot shops anywhere in SCC. https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/news/local/2015/10/09/house-action-puts-algonac-marijuana-ordinance-hold/73680232/
And plenty of residents who suffer from illnesses and conditions that could utilize marijuana waited. https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/news/local/2016/06/25/patients-towns-want-relief-states-foggy-pot-rules/86242542/
Waiting on the state was also the excuse even after voters approved the statewide referendum legalizing marijuana for adult recreational use. https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/news/2019/01/07/waiting-state-list-local-recreational-pot-bans-balloons/2489963002/
While some local residents had some entrepreneurial thoughts, #PortHuron officials started talking openly about the eventuality of taking local action. https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/news/2019/02/23/residents-begin-pressing-recreational-pot-options/2960683002/
At this point, officials in other communities talked about it. But #PortHuron more than others. One point kept coming up: Nobody wanted to be the first in the state.
No one wanted to be the "guinea pigs."
No one wanted to be the "guinea pigs."
And while voters in #PortHuron have always voted in favor of marijuana proposals [in 2008 for medical, in 2014, as pictured, to decriminalize, and in 2018 for rec], that paradigm shifts the farther out into St. Clair County you how, where rural township voters reject MJ.
![And while voters in #PortHuron have always voted in favor of marijuana proposals [in 2008 for medical, in 2014, as pictured, to decriminalize, and in 2018 for rec], that paradigm shifts the farther out into St. Clair County you how, where rural township voters reject MJ.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/El6GCJBX0AEUsVW.jpg "And while voters in #PortHuron have always voted in favor of marijuana proposals [in 2008 for medical, in 2014, as pictured, to decriminalize, and in 2018 for rec], that paradigm shifts the farther out into St. Clair County you how, where rural township voters reject MJ.")
But in 2019, #PortHuron officials agreed on a recreational moratorium that would sunset this year. Once again giving them time to work on rules.
That sunset was twice extended from the end of June to September. Then a few days last month. https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/news/2019/09/10/port-huron-officials-recreational-marijuana-ban-isnt-forever/2274468001/
That sunset was twice extended from the end of June to September. Then a few days last month. https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/news/2019/09/10/port-huron-officials-recreational-marijuana-ban-isnt-forever/2274468001/
To their credit, #PortHuron officials, indeed, used the time to learn about marijuana.
This is what the Progress for Michigan 2020 spokesman didn't take into account in a recent interview, telling us last week the city sat on its hands. https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/news/2020/01/22/port-huron-officials-tour-marijuana-shops-set-stage-possible-ordinance-talks/4540390002/
This is what the Progress for Michigan 2020 spokesman didn't take into account in a recent interview, telling us last week the city sat on its hands. https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/news/2020/01/22/port-huron-officials-tour-marijuana-shops-set-stage-possible-ordinance-talks/4540390002/
Local City Council members and planning commissioners met more than once over the summer to talk about the proposed business and zoning ordinances for recreational marijuana. https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/news/2020/08/26/port-huron-officials-continuing-recreational-marijuana-discussion-thursday/3444126001/
But this summer, the folks behind Progress for Michigan 2020 were already circulating the petition, as it has in other communities, to get signatures.
I ran into someone doing it on Aug. primary, who I stopped to talk to for another story about sigs for anti-Whitmer measures.
I ran into someone doing it on Aug. primary, who I stopped to talk to for another story about sigs for anti-Whitmer measures.
We asked thae woman collecting sigs at a polling spot in northern #PortHuron if she was a local resident. She named a street. But a residency check later showed her most recently as a Florida resident with a Facebook post announcing a professional signature collecting gig.
We couldn't use her for the anti-Whitmer effort story (plenty of actual residents were also collecting sigs). She never responded to messages in folo. So, this info never made a story.
But she was also collecting sigs for a marijuana effort and denied the city's ongoing talks.
But she was also collecting sigs for a marijuana effort and denied the city's ongoing talks.
Later in August, Progress for Michigan registered as a question committee in St. Clair County. And took the city to court where they were ultimately successful on appeal. https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/news/2020/09/10/conflicting-recreational-marijuana-proposal-appear-port-huron-ballot-supreme-court-rejects-citys-app/3463195001/
Throughout October, mailers began popping up in mailboxes (I got four) promising economic benefits and appealing to compassionate options for those needing marijuana for medicinal reasons.
The address on those flyers, which was also the address on the August committee filing, came back to a Lansing resident who's advocated for marijuana efforts before.
Notably including this one: https://twitter.com/SarahGLehr/status/983498542932217856
Notably including this one: https://twitter.com/SarahGLehr/status/983498542932217856
Talked to that guy Jerren Osmar last week. Confirmed involvement but forwarded comment questions to a spokesman.
An email on the flyer also turns up no results with error messages indicating the address may not exist from both a private gmail and my TH account.
An email on the flyer also turns up no results with error messages indicating the address may not exist from both a private gmail and my TH account.
That spokesman, Sam Pernick, a Metro Detroit res., admitted Progress for Michigan 2020 did not file pre-election campaign financing reports and probably faced a fine.
To this day, we have no idea who paid for the campaign, how much, and what financially drove the effort.
To this day, we have no idea who paid for the campaign, how much, and what financially drove the effort.
There's been a general feeling from #PortHuron officials it's deliberate and that Progress for Michigan 2020 is financed by a larger consortium of existing marijuana operators.
That is up for debate without more info or CFR filings.
That is up for debate without more info or CFR filings.
Anyway, a lot of info that explains how the ballot proposal and the existing city ordinance are different.
Today, voters decide which one makes more sense.
This entire thread [at a length written by Dostoevsky, evidently] was stuff that's not in it. https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/news/2020/11/02/port-huron-voters-decide-conflicting-marijuana-proposal/6123978002/
Today, voters decide which one makes more sense.
This entire thread [at a length written by Dostoevsky, evidently] was stuff that's not in it. https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/news/2020/11/02/port-huron-voters-decide-conflicting-marijuana-proposal/6123978002/
What we haven't reported are the full machinations of an entity that's been faceless with plans still unfolding.
1. On court action, their lawyer couldn't talk to us.
2. Currently, they're considering action to repeal city's current MJ ordinance even if theirs passes today.
1. On court action, their lawyer couldn't talk to us.
2. Currently, they're considering action to repeal city's current MJ ordinance even if theirs passes today.
What's important to note is that the city has been assuming to let the ballot proposal to replace its ordinance if it passes, even though there's no real legal precedent that forces them to.
Progress for Michigan is preparing to ensure theirs is guaranteed. But why?
Progress for Michigan is preparing to ensure theirs is guaranteed. But why?
