SALINE, MI — A big, Michigan-based hashish firm is eyeing a city-owned lot in Saline to hitch the ranks of its 30 institutions throughout the state.
Lume Hashish Co. pitched the Saline City Council during a Feb. 7 presentation after making a suggestion for a 6.5-acre plot off East Michigan Avenue, by holding firm Visio Clara, LLC.
Town’s leaders final 12 months accepted a permitting process for medical marijuana facilities, and guidelines permitting leisure hashish outlets are at present within the works.
Why is Lume, whose nearest areas are in Petersburg, Jackson and Adrian, fascinated with Saline, Council Member Kevin Camero-Sulak requested the corporate’s representatives.
The corporate sees a marketplace for its “higher-end,” “luxurious” expertise, mentioned Michael Dowdell, the agency’s vp of retail operations.
“We take a look at it because the soccer mother who perhaps has an ailment or one thing like that, can drop her child off and go get a therapeutic massage and if she must get some CBD or one thing like that to assist her then they’ll really feel comfy coming to Lume,” he mentioned.
Lume’s precise provide for Lot 20A, the enterprise park parcel subsequent to Zippy Auto Wash, wasn’t disclosed on publicly available city documents. A real estate listing for the land pegs the asking worth at $817,500.
The Michigan hashish retailer, whose possession consists of the founding father of Warrior Sports activities and homeowners of Belle Tire, isn’t the one one to make a play for the land.
Town had acquired a suggestion from a big Michigan medical group, who then chose to break off talks and declined to move forward with the precise parcel, Saline leaders mentioned in late January.
One other marijuana retailer additionally submitted a suggestion for the lot and was initially slated to current to Metropolis Council on Feb. 14 however withdrew, based on Saline Mayor Brian Marl and metropolis paperwork.
Lume’s proposal for the land would use simply a part of the lot, and if the acquisition goes by the corporate wish to work with town to promote it for mixed-use improvement or doubtlessly lease it out for different retail makes use of, Lume Basic Counsel John Abbo instructed elected officers.
Saline leaders, who’ve been slower than friends in neighboring Washtenaw County cities in welcoming marijuana institutions, additionally received a style of some pushback from residents to the concept.
Considered one of them, resident Dean Greb, wrote in a communication to council learn into the file a couple of “black market” for marijuana. Saline would develop into a “magnet for unhealthy actors and sellers,” placing younger folks in danger, and town may discover one other purchaser for the lot that will convey a extra optimistic affect, he wrote.
Metropolis Council Member Jack Ceo confronted Lume executives over what he mentioned may very well be “the elephant within the room.” Have any of the corporate’s retail areas skilled points with felony exercise? he mentioned.
Throughout the agency’s 30 areas since its founding in 2019, it has had “no incidences,” Dowdell mentioned, save one scenario the place somebody threw a brick at one among their shops and was subsequently pushed house by police.
The shops are below video surveillance 24 hours a day, he mentioned, and nearly all of the retail areas have guards posted at peak hours.
Saline Police Chief Jerrod Hart, summoned by one other council member to weigh in, mentioned he’s discovered fellow chiefs in different elements of Michigan haven’t skilled an adversarial relationship with hashish outlets.
Lume would pursue a metropolis medical marijuana allow, below guidelines metropolis leaders accepted final summer season, Abbo mentioned.
Learn extra: Saline hashes out framework for city’s medical marijuana businesses
Zoning ordinance changes allowing adult-use recreational cannabis locations in the city, limiting them to sure areas, are in improvement, at present ready on a advice from the Saline Planning Fee earlier than they head to Metropolis Council for consideration.
If attainable, Lume would pursue that allow as nicely, Abbo mentioned.
The entire firm’s merchandise come from a cultivation facility in Evart, in Osceola County, and make the journey to shops in sealed containers, mentioned architect Christopher Enright, with the Lume workforce.
No product ever hits the skin air, Enright mentioned. “We’re good neighbors. We’ve got a protracted monitor file, and we look ahead to being right here in Saline.”
Whether or not Saline leaders will agree stays to be seen.
Metropolis officers intend to schedule a tour of one among Lume’s different areas and extra debate over the proposal will possible occur in March, based on the mayor.
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