Medical marijuana debate heats up in Warren

WARREN, Mich. – Warren Mayor Jim Fouts said he's not against medical marijuana but he wants to protect the city's neighborhoods from some of the negative things that come along with it.

When the issue was brought up Tuesday night at the City Council meeting, more than a dozen people stood up to say what this was a bad idea. They spoke in opposition of the mayor's proposed medical marijuana ordinance.

Here's what Fouts's ordinance would require:

  • Medical marijuana to be grown and stored in a manufacturing district or on property occupied by a qualifying patient
  • It would require rooms with windows to be shielded from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
  • Grow sites would have to register with the city's building and safety inspections
  • There also must be a special ventilation system on the building to manage odors

Many residents who spoke Tuesday night said the mayor is playing politics. At least six attorneys spoke out against the mayor's proposal.

Council members said they would discuss the issue more in committee meetings.


About the Author

You can watch Kimberly Gill weekdays anchoring Local 4 News at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. and streaming live at 10 p.m. on Local 4+. She's an award-winning journalist who finally called Detroit home in 2014. Kim has won Regional Emmy Awards, and was part of the team that won the National Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Newscast in 2022.

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