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Judge Allows Reopening of 3 Shuttered Marijuana Shops in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
In brief
• Judge Mary Barglind has granted permission for the reopening of three marijuana shops in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula: Nirvana Center, Lume Cannabis, and Higher Love.
• The closure was due to an ongoing legal battle over the number and selection process of licensed marijuana businesses in Menominee.
• Adam Michaud’s ballot referendum committee challenged the settlement and sought public input on the number of businesses.
• To maintain the “status quo,” Judge Barglind ordered a halt on issuing new licenses until the lawsuit was resolved.
• Following an emergency hearing, the judge suspended her order and allowed these three shops to reopen.
• However, another hearing is scheduled to address various motions related to the lawsuit.
Good news for marijuana enthusiasts in Menominee, MI! A judge has granted permission for three marijuana shops in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to reopen after being shut down for the past ten days.
The temporary restraining order has been suspended, allowing the Nirvana Center marijuana store, Lume Cannabis, and Higher Love to resume operations.
These three businesses temporarily closed due to an ongoing legal battle, are eager to capitalize on out-of-state customers, particularly from neighboring Wisconsin, where marijuana is still illegal.
The closures were a result of a dispute over the number and selection process of licensed marijuana businesses in Menominee. Earlier this year, the city issued licenses to Rize and the Fire Station, leading to lawsuits from other businesses claiming the process was flawed.
The initial lawsuits were dismissed, but a settlement agreement was reached to add six new marijuana businesses and remove limits on future retail licenses.
However, a ballot referendum committee led by Adam Michaud challenged the settlement and sought public input on whether Menominee should have more than two marijuana businesses.
The City Council found a loophole to subvert the referendum by repealing the targeted ordinance and passing a similar one, which included funding for the Menominee Police Department.
This move prompted another lawsuit, alleging Michigan Open Meetings Act violations.
To maintain the “status quo,” Presiding Menominee Circuit Court Judge Mary Barglind ordered a halt on issuing new licenses until the lawsuit was resolved. Meanwhile, Lume, Higher Love, and Nirvana Center had already received their licenses and began operating.
Menominee officials argued that these businesses had violated the judge’s order, leading to their temporary closure.
Following an emergency hearing, the judge suspended the order and allowed the three shops to reopen. However, the legal battle is not over, as another hearing is scheduled to address various motions related to the lawsuit.
Stay tuned for further updates on the status of marijuana businesses in Michigan.