{"id":1953,"date":"2018-12-15T18:35:35","date_gmt":"2018-12-15T15:35:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yemeniamerican.com\/en\/?p=1953"},"modified":"2018-12-15T18:35:35","modified_gmt":"2018-12-15T15:35:35","slug":"dearborn-considers-banning-marijuana-businesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yemeniamerican.com\/en\/dearborn-considers-banning-marijuana-businesses\/","title":{"rendered":"Dearborn considers banning marijuana businesses"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Yemeni American News<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Dearborn City Council has postponed voting on a proposal to ban recreational marijuana businesses from the city.
\nCity officials said they tabled the resolution to listen to the opinion of residents and gather input that would help them meet the needs and concerns of the community.
\nA proposal to legalize weed was backed comfortably by Michigan voters last month. In Dearborn, it passed narrowly although Arab Americans largely opposed the legalization at the polls.
\nThe city hosted a town hall to listen to residents\u2019 take on the issue on 11 December.
\nThe well attended meeting lasted for two hours with dozens of citizens expressing their opinions on the matter. Opponents of the ban highlighted potential tax revenues and cited medical research about the possible benefits of marijuana. They argued that alcohol is more harmful than weed, and it is readily available and consumed by young people.
\nThose in favor of the ban spoke of the danger of marijuana to children and the city\u2019s family-oriented culture. They also said that dispensaries would bring down the value of properties around them.
\nCouncil members put the proposal forward quickly after the elections. Dearborn officials say they wanted to let people know if the city was going to ban weed businesses before potential investors put money into such ventures, including buying shops.
\nProposal 1, which legalized weed, gives municipalities the option to regulate marijuana businesses, including the option to \u201copt out\u201d of allowing dispensaries.
\n\u201cThe Dearborn City Council was on its way to passing an ordinance that would ban marijuana establishments from operating within the city,\u201d the city said in a statement.
\n\u201cHowever, the City Council decided to not take any further action on its proposed ordinance until it could gather more input from the public.\u201d
\nEven if Dearborn ends up banning marijuana establishments, consuming, possessing or growing weed would still be legal within city limits, as long as the conduct complies with state laws and restrictions.
\nThe city cannot ban or criminalize marijuana itself; it only has control over its sale inside its borders.<\/p>\n

\u2018Grave responsibility\u2019<\/strong>
\nDearborn Police Chief stressed that while the people of Michigan have voted in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana, adults have a \u201cgrave responsibility\u201d to make sure that children are not exposed to the drug.
\n\u201cAdults can do what they want and what they think is best, but historically drug addition and use of alcohol and marijuana is getting to a younger and younger age, so my advice would be, be responsible with marijuana just like you are with alcohol, and even more so,\u201d Haddad told the Yemeni American News.
\nThe legalization of marijuana does not mean that driving while high is now legal, Haddad warned.
\nHe said his officers will detect and penalize those drivers intoxicated by weed.
\n\u201cPeople that drive under the influence of marijuana will be detected also, just like drunk driving, there is a different sobriety test that will given, and ultimately a blood test may be given,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cWe will be on the lookout for anybody who drives who appears impaired and our officers are going to be trained further on how to detect that.\u201d
\nWhile stressing that the decision is in the hand of the city, Haddad shared his opinion on whether Dearborn should allow recreational marijuana facilities.
\n\u201cI would ask the city to opt out for 18 months to 2 years and ask other cities who have been somewhat responsible and successful.\u201d
\nThe chief called for gathering the facts before making a decision. He also urged taking into consideration the business aspect of the situation.
\n\u201cWe have a business sector that has come back from one of the greatest depressions of all time in our lifetime. We want to make sure that what we do is a wise business decision for the city of Dearborn,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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