The number of marijuana retail locations allowed in the city of Benton Harbor won’t change, at least for now. At a Tuesday meeting, city commissioners considered a proposed ordinance amendment that would have made several changes to the rules governing local marijuana businesses, ultimately increasing the number of retail locations allowed from six to nine. However, they balked at the idea. Commissioner Edward Isom said he’s not opposed to marijuana businesses, but doesn’t want the city to overdo it.
“We’ve got six,” Isom said. “We’ve got three operating now. I say let’s see how we do with the six.”
Commissioner Juanita Henry had similar thoughts.
“4.5 miles of city is not a whole lot of avenues, and I think that it was great for the recreational and the medical, but I just think that we’re too flooded right now.”
Commissioner Ron Singleton said the city can wait and see how things go if it does reach that limit of six marijuana retail locations. Commissioner Sharon Henderson proposed changing the retail limit from nine to six in the proposed ordinance amendment while approving other changes, but her motion failed. The status quo remains.
