Medical Cannabis (Marijuana)

Recreational Cannabis

Looking for info on recreational cannabis? We've launched a new Recreational Cannabis page.

Recreational Cannabis

Applications for Medical Marijuana Facilities

We've provided a table and map view of the active applications for medical marijuana facilities in Grand Rapids.

View Applications

Current Licensees

There are currently several state-licensed medical cannabis facilities operating within the City of Grand Rapids.

Several medical marijuana facilities have been approved by the Planning Commission and may be in process. View the applications and their status using the link above.

A map of all licensed cannabis businesses in the State of Michigan is available online here.

Recreational Use

Check out our new recreational cannabis webpage with the latest information about adult-use cannabis and resources for the application process. For more information about the State's recreational cannabis law, Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act (MRTMA), click on this link. 

Effective Date for Medical Marijuana Ordinance

The Zoning Ordinance sections pertaining to medical marijuana became effective on January 18, 2019, which allowed acceptance of applications for support industry facility types - Safety Compliance Facilities and Secure Transporters - starting on January 22, 2019. Applications for core industry types - Growers, Processors, and Provisioning Centers - were accepted starting on March 4, 2019. While a draw to schedule the order of consideration for core industry facilities (more details here) took place on April 26, 2019, we continue to accept complete applications at any time. Contact Planning Staff if you plan to apply to open a facility - a significant amount of time and work is required to prepare a complete application.

Keep an eye on this page for more updates.

Background Information

July 24 Ordinance

Download the ordinance adopted on July 24, 2018

Note

This ordinance is not the final adopted ordinance. That ordinance was adopted on December 4, 2018. View the Final Ordinance.

Ordinance Process

Staff prepared ordinance language for a Planning Commission public hearing at their May 24, 2018 meeting. At that meeting, the Planning Commission recommended deletions of several provisions of the ordinance to increase the number of available locations for marijuana facilities, as well as other changes. The Planning Commission recommended the amended ordinance to the City Commission for approval.

The City Commission reviewed the ordinance and hosted a public hearing on July 10, 2018.

Public Hearing - July 10, 2018

The City Commission held a public hearing for the medical marijuana ordinance on July 10, 2018, at which many people commented. 

Hybrid Ordinance Prepared but Discarded

Since the public hearing on July 10, 2018, we prepared a new hybrid ordinance. This included provisions for marijuana microbusinesses in anticipation of the ballot initiative to permit recreational marihuana passed by voters in November 2018. The City Commission ultimately did not review this ordinance at their meeting on July 24th, 2018.

Submit Your Comments

You can send correspondence to the City Commission by way of the Office of the City Clerk at any time. Their info is in the Contact Us section of their page. Send them an email or write a letter addressed to the City Commission.

The Data

We prepared interactive maps to help you make sense of different ordinance recommendations that were considered prior to the adoption of the ordinance.

We also prepared a document called the Cannabis Compendium to help provide some background on the legislation, initiatives, and data surrounding this topic.

Annual Fee

$5,000

Zoning Requirements

Under this proposal all non-microbusiness medical marihuana facilities would be subject to the following separation requirements: 

  • 1,000 feet from a child care center, or a public or private K-12 school
  • 1,000 feet from a publicly owned park or playground
  • 1,000 feet from a church or place of worship
  • 1,000 feet from a substance abuse clinic or rehabilitation facility
  • 250 feet from a residential zone district (Article 5)
  • 600 feet from another medical marijuana facility, or facilities located on the same parcel

All marihuana microbusinesses would be subject to the following separation requirements: 

  • 1,000 feet from a child care center, or a public or private K-12 school
  • 1,000 feet from a publicly owned park or playground
  • 1,000 feet from another medical marijuana facility, or facilities located on the same parcel

Adjoining Local Jurisdictions

A 1,000 feet separation distance would be required for all marihuana facilities from adjoining local jurisdictions. 

Grower License Stacking

Permits the stacking of grower licenses to permit more plants than would otherwise be allowed for the license.

Co-Location of Facilities

Allows more that one license (grower, processor, and/or provisioning center) to be located on the same parcel.

Other Requirements

  • Good Neighbor Plan
  • Voluntary Equitable Development Agreement

Annual Fee

None

Zoning Requirements

Under this proposal zoning restrictions vary based on facility type.

Provisioning Centers

  • 1,000 feet from a child care center, or a public or private K-12 school
  • 1,000 feet from a publicly owned park or playground
  • 1,000 feet from another facility, or facilities located on the same parcel

Growers, Processors, Secure Transporters, and Safety Compliance Facilities

  • 1,000 feet from child care centers, or a public or private K-12 school
  • 600 feet from another medical marijuana facility, or facilities located on the same parcel

Adjoining Local Jurisdictions

A 1,000 feet separation distance would not be required from uses and residential zone districts in adjoining local jurisdictions. 

Grower License Stacking

Permits the stacking of grower licenses to permit more plants than would otherwise be allowed for the license.

Co-Location of Facilities

Allows more that one license (grower, processor, and/or provisioning center) to be located on the same parcel.

Other Requirements

None

Types of Facilities

The State passed the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act in September 2016 to allow certain types of marihuana facilities:

Local Control

The State law allows local municipalities to choose whether to allow any of the types of facilities. If the local government takes no action, then no facilities are allowed. To allow the facilities, a local government must enact an ordinance explicitly authorizing them.

Resources

State Legislative Reports

Fiscal Year 2018 Sec. 507 - Medical Marihuana

Fiscal Year 2018 Sec. 519 - Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing and Tracking Program

Fiscal Year 2017 Sec. 507 - Medical Marihuana

Fiscal Year 2016 Sec. 507 - Medical Marihuana

Fiscal Year 2016 Sec. 902(1) - Medical Marihuana Registry Identification Cards

Contact

Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA)
Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation
Michigan Medical Marihuana Program
PO Box 30083
Lansing, MI 48909

Phone: 517-284-6400

Email: LARA-BMMR-MMMPINFO@michigan.gov

Primary Staff Contact

Development Center

Al Romero-Gibu

Cannabis Manager

 

Email

aromero@grcity.us

 

Phone

616-456-3554

Interactive Maps

Get a closer look at the data. See the potential locations of suitable facilities under the ordinance.

Interactive Maps

Reminder: Applicants are ultimately responsible for determining compliance with ordinance requirements.

State Licensing

The State of Michigan's Department of Licensing And Regulatory Affairs (LARA) oversees the State licensing process.

State Licensing

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