DETROIT – In Tuesday’s election, voters in three Michigan cities — Grosse Pointe Park, Keego Harbor, and Rochester — said no to allowing marijuana retailers. In Birmingham, with 67 percent of votes counted, the marijuana proposal likewise was headed for defeat.
Like the holdouts in Oak Park, who for decades stuck with the Prohibition era’s ban on sales of alcohol by the glass, these conservative and upscale communities extended their record of just saying no to marijuana sales.
In none of the cities was the vote close. Here are results:
- Grosse Pointe Park: Voters had two questions and said no to both. The no votes were 77.63 percent against the “Open Stores Ordinance,” which would’ve allowed two sales outlets for recreational marijuana; and 66.72 percent also against the City Cannabis Licensing charter amendment, which also would’ve allowed two sales outlets for recreational marijuana but only after setting up a licensing process.
- Keego Harbor: Voters could’ve approved any one of three ways to allow sales of recreational marijuana, the no votes tallied 53.49 percent for allowing one retailer, 61.37 percent for allowing a vote at the next general election to decide on sales, and 60.5 percent for allowing two retailers with licensing rules.
- Rochester: Voters were the most lop-sided of the four cities in defeating marijuana proposals. The no votes tallied 89.24 percent against allowing three “adult-use” stores selling recreational marijuana; and 87.38 percent against allowing a licensing and application process that would’ve allowed three retailers of recreational marijuana.
- Birmingham: With two-thirds of the voted counted as of 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, residents watching the returns said they were sure that the marijuana proposal would be defeated. The no vote had a substantial lead with 73.24 percent representing 3,235 voters. That proposal would allow one medical marijuana sales outlet and a second one for recreational sales.
Reported by Bill Laytner: [email protected]
