Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By RALPH ANSAMI
Ironwood — The Ironwood City Commission and city employees learned about Michigan’s new medical marijuana law at a work session before Monday’s commission meeting.
It was the first meeting by the commission to discuss implications of the new law and no action was taken.
“This is the first step to get educated about the law,” said City Manager Scott Erickson.
Planning commission members and department heads also attended the session, in addition to a half-dozen members of the public.
They learned that a Class C marijuana license for up to 1,500 plants could result in 18 full-time employees. Additional jobs would come in processing, a provisioning center, a secure transporter and a safety compliance facility, all of which could be licensed by the city with fees of $5,000 apiece.
A hand-out from Ironwood resident David Schulteis indicated all marijuana facilities would be charged a yearly licensing fee, with the amount to be determined by the municipality, based on the cost to oversee the facilities by law enforcement.
He said the pay range for the jobs would start at $14 per hour and run up to a salary of $80,000 per year.
Schulteis indicated most of the marijuana would be shipped to lower Michigan to be sold at provisioning centers located there.
The new law takes effect at the end of the year and Erickson said a public hearing will likely be held before then.
Michigan allows the use of medical marijuana.
In other business Monday, the city commission:
—Again approved a resolution requesting exemption from provisions of Public Act 152, which deals with medical benefits.
—Went into closed session to discuss contract negotiations with the city employees’ union.
—Heard from Erickson that a grant will be sought for more signage for the Iron Belle Trail.
—Learned the Aurora Land Survey plat has been signed and sent to the state for final approval.
