A big topic of discussion across the state for quite some time now has been recreational marijuana, which was legalized in 2018. The legalization has opened the door for potential revenue for entrepreneurs as well as municipalities who have these ventures as part of their tax base. Along with that potential revenue comes questions about the safety and environment associated with recreational pot shops.
What’s changing now, is that the Marijuana Regulatory Agency has started accepting applications for recreational marijuana businesses. This means you can expect to see legal marijuana shops popping up any day now in cities that allow them.
Locally, the cities of Port Huron and Marysville have banned recreational marijuana shops, with Marysville having a permanent ban and Port Huron having a temporary ban that expires next summer. While possessing and using marijuana is no longer illegal, it’s not a free-for-all for pot smokers. It is illegal to consume marijuana in a car, even as a passenger. Buyers can’t take it out of state. While it is possible to see marijuana smoking areas at public venues, places that receive federal funding, like college campuses, will not allow marijuana, and workers can still get fired if they test positive for marijuana use. There are still a lot of unknowns for the state and the Blue Water area as the practical details of legal pot play out.
Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.
