Central Lake passes on approving marijuana shop distance amendment

CENTRAL LAKE - After hearing from several members of the community both for and against the issue, as well as Central Lake village attorney Bryan Graham, the Central Lake Village Council voted against approving an amendment that would allow a proposed retail marijuana establishment to open in the downtown area of Central Lake during a special meeting on Wednesday, April 28. 

Originally scheduled to open between May 1 and May 15, the completely renovated State Street shop had been ready to open pending the imminent arrival of an operating permit from the State of Michigan, but a final review of the permit in mid-April revealed an issue with state zoning guidelines stating that any retail marijuana establishment must be at least 1,000 feet from the nearest school building.

The Torch Cannabis Company, which the new business has been named, is located 923 feet from the nearest school building on State Street adjacent to Village Market.