BudDigest

Ballot proposals on marijuana dispensaries fail in 5 Metro Detroit cities

Ballot proposals on marijuana dispensaries fail in 5 Metro Detroit cities 02:17

(CBS DETROIT) – Five cities in Metro Detroit on Tuesday voted “no” to ballot proposals related to approving the operation of marijuana dispensaries. 

Grosse Pointe Park Mayor Michele Hodges said residents in her town made the right decision. 

“Very grateful for our community here that they sent a strong message that those are not welcome here,” Hodges said. 

In all, there were five cities with similar measures on the ballot in the elections on Tuesday. Voters in Birmingham, Grosse Pointe Park, Keego Harbor, Rochester and Yale overwhelmingly rejected having dispensaries within city limits. 

“It is something that we decided. No, we don’t need that shiny object. We are committed to the long term. And we are going to grow our tax base, not diminish it over time with a use like that,” said Hodges. 

Despite the state offering financial incentives for cities that allow marijuana dispensaries, these five cities still rejected the ballot proposals. 

“I think our community understands that prosperity is our goal, vibrancy as our

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Earlier this year, Okay Cannabis and West Town Bakery announced that their third joint location, and their first in Evanston, would open in July 2023. But that opening date has since been pushed back to January 2024.

“When we were originally looking to purchase the property, we thought the state was going to require us to open by July, otherwise we thought we might lose the license,” said Scott Weiner, co-owner of The Fifty/50 Restaurant Group, which owns West Town Bakery and part of Okay Cannabis. 

A rendering shows the Evanston Okay Cannabis store, set to open in January at 100 Chicago Ave. Credit: The Fifty/50 Restaurant Group

The Okay Cannabis dispensary at 100 Chicago Ave, on the northwest corner of Chicago Avenue and Howard Street, will be Evanston’s second pot store. The city’s other marijuana shop is Zen Leaf, at 1804 Maple Ave. in the Maple Avenue Parking Garage.

Illinois classifies Okay Cannabis, which is 93% Black- and Brown-owned by CESAM and The Fifty/50 Restaurant Group, as a social equity dispensary. Such businesses receive a license

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Cheech and Chong launching three local cannabis shops, will visit Whately on Saturday News > Business “>

Jane Quirk of Happy Feelings dispensary in Whately holds up a flyer and products from the store’s rebranding as Cheech & Chong’s Dispensoria. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

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Happy Feelings dispensary in Whately is rebranding as Cheech & Chong’s Dispensoria. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

Staff Writer

Published: 11/8/2023 4:34:51 PM

Modified: 11/8/2023 4:34:12 PM

WHATELY — A few months after opening and with business booming, the existing Happy Feelings dispensary brand is going up in smoke on Saturday, with two familiar faces becoming the face of the company’s three stores.

Next weekend, Happy Feelings stores in Whately, Greenfield and Northampton will become Cheech & Chong’s Dispensorias. The famous comedy duo’s company has partnered with ToroVerde, the dispensaries’ operators, to launch their first three stores in the country, and they plan to visit the Whately location as part of the rebranding.

“When you think about it, there have been plenty

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Green Thumb Industries Reports Third Quarter 2023 Results

CHICAGO and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Green Thumb Industries Inc. (“Green Thumb” or the “Company”) (CSE: GTII) (OTCQX: GTBIF), a leading national cannabis consumer packaged goods company and owner of RISE Dispensaries, today reported its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023. Financial results are reported in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and all currency is in U.S. dollars.

Highlights for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2023:

Third quarter revenue of $275 million increased 9% sequentially. GAAP net income for the third quarter of $11 million or $0.05 per basic and diluted share. Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter was $83 million or 30% of revenue. Third quarter cash flow from operations was $61 million, bringing the year-to-date total to $154 million. Cash at quarter end totaled $137 million. Share repurchases of $25 million during the quarter, over 1% of shares outstanding. Adult-use cannabis sales commenced at four RISE Dispensaries in Maryland on July 1. RISE Dispensaries opened in Las Vegas, Nevada and Fruitland Park, Florida.

Additionally, after quarter end, the Company

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MENOMINEE, Mich. (WLUK) — A handful of cannabis dispensaries and the city of Menominee, Michigan are involved in an intense legal battle.

Three of the city’s five pot businesses were shut down by court order last Friday.

As police were forcing cannabis store Higher Love to shut down, Angela Belling was nearby watching it all go down.

“I was curious because that’s my favorite one. I go there all the time,” said Belling.

Higher Love is one of three Menominee dispensaries forced to close under a judge’s temporary restraining order. The others are Nirvana Center and Lume Cannabis Company.

Two pot shops remain open: Rize and The Fire Station.

“As soon as Lume opened, all cars from Wisconsin were four wide, probably 40 cars, and all the other dispensaries were empty,” said James Nyland of Menominee, Michigan.

James Nyland says customers started lining up at Rize and Fire Station the night the other dispensaries were shut down.

“There was probably 20 cars at each one, so they’re getting their business back since they’ve been shut down,” said Nyland.

Michigan legalized marijuana in 2019.

In 2021, the city of Menominee awarded marijuana retail permits to Rize and Fire Station.

The dispensaries that weren’t awarded permits sued, but eventually were given permits under

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MENOMINEE, MICHIGAN (WLUK) — A handful of cannabis dispensaries and the city of Menominee, Michigan are involved in an intense legal battle.

Three of the city’s five pot businesses were shut down by court order last Friday.

As police were forcing cannabis store Higher Love to shut down, Angela Belling was nearby watching it all go down.

“I was curious because that’s my favorite one. I go there all the time,” said Belling.

Higher Love is one of three Menominee dispensaries forced to close under a judge’s temporary restraining order. The others are Nirvana Center and Lume Cannabis Company.

Two pot shops remain open: Rize and The Fire Station.

“As soon as Lume opened, all cars from Wisconsin were four wide, probably 40 cars, and all the other dispensaries were empty,” said James Nyland of Menominee, Michigan.

James Nyland says customers started lining up at Rize and Fire Station the night the other dispensaries were shut down.

“There was probably 20 cars at each one, so they’re getting their business back since they’ve been shut down,” said Nyland.

2019 is when Michigan residents could first legally buy marijuana in the state.

In 2021, the city of Menominee awarded marijuana retail permits to Rize and Fire Station.

The dispensaries that weren’t awarded

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JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ohio — Ohioans voted in favor to commercialize, regulate, legalize, and tax adult use marijuana, including buying, selling, and growing cannabis, making the Buckeye State the 24th state to do so in the U.S.

Wintersville Mayor Mike Petrella is the owner of Ohio Valley Natural Relief, a medical marijuana dispensary.

He had been advocating for a yes vote.

Petrella says Issue 2 will benefit more than just marijuana consumers.

“So far the response has been OK,” he said. “I know statewide I’ve gotten a lot of calls. It’s all about moving the program forward in a better direction.

“It would impact us greatly. There’s a 10 percent tax on all recreational marijuana that will be in place and 36 percent of that tax will be coming back to municipalities that have dispensaries located in them. For Jefferson County, there are two located in Wintersville so that will be a huge increase in revenue.”

Petrella says current Ohio regulations will still be in place with the new program, creating more transparency, and helping to eliminate lethal threats like the black market.

This measure will take effect in 30 days, but Petrella said it could take a few months to really see this form in its entirety.

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JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ohio — Ohioans voted in favor to commercialize, regulate, legalize, and tax adult use marijuana, Including buying, selling, and growing cannabis, making the Buckeye State the 24th state to do so in the U.S.

Wintersville Mayor Mike Petrella is the owner of Ohio Valley Natural Relief, a medical marijuana dispensary.

He had been advocating for a yes vote.

Petrella says Issue 2 will benefit more than just marijuana consumers.

“So far the response has been OK,” he said. “I know statewide I’ve gotten a lot of calls. It’s all about moving the program forward in a better direction.

“It would impact us greatly. Theres a 10 percent tax on all recreational marijuana that will be in place and 36 percent of that tax will be coming back to municipalities that have dispensaries located in them. For Jefferson County, there are two located in Wintersville so that will be a huge increase in revenue.”

Petrella says current Ohio regulations will still be in place with the new program, creating more transparency, and helping to eliminate lethal threats like the black market.

This measure will take effect in 30 days, but Petrella said it could take a few months to really see this form in its entirety.

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood joined 17 News at Sunrise for a monthly segment to talk about some of the biggest issues facing Kern County.

During Wednesday’s interview, he discussed comments he made to the Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce last month, where he stated “If you don’t have somebody to send, you don’t send someone.”

2nd annual career and resource fair coming to Delano Nov. 8

Youngblood attributed the sometimes lengthy response times primarily on the continued staffing-shortage for the agency. The hiring process can take quite a long time for those joining KCSO, and all the while, other personnel are still retiring and moving jobs at a normal rate, according to Youngblood.

He also discussed the local enforcement policies followed by his agency when it comes to cannabis dispensaries. One such bust in Rosamond in September led to the arrest of 17 people after KCSO raided seven pot dispensaries.

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Youngblood discussed his personal opinion, as well as the way his agency plans to enforce changes that are coming in California which will increase

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Jersey City, NJ – November 8, 2023 – PRESS RELEASE – The Cannabis Place announces the grand opening of its New Jersey flagship dispensary location this Thursday at 4:20 p.m. “We picked this week to open. It is symbolic in many ways. I am an Iraq Veteran, we have the Marine Corps Birthday and Veterans Day, to add the opening of Jersey City’s first service-disabled veteran owned business to this makes this week even more special to us and our team,” said The Cannabis Place founder and CEO Osbert Orduña.

Less than a week ago, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 360, in partnership with The Cannabis Place, announced the completion of the country’s first ever cannabis retail pre-apprenticeship training program, held at The Cannabis Place’s community impact room adjacent to its dispensary in Jersey City, where nearly two dozen local students learned the basics of working in a cannabis retail environment from UFCW Local 360’s experts. Every participant, after completing the two-week course, has now started their journey to a unionized cannabis dispensary career with The Cannabis Place in Jersey City.

“We are a partner with our local community,” said Orduña. “That means running an ethical, pro-union company and boosting

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