GAYLORD, Mich. — While the city council in this small city in Michigan might be comfortable with the recreational use of marijuana, the panel isn’t ready yet to allow the open consumption of the drug in the city.
And by a 4-2 vote earlier this week, the council amended the city’s marijuana ordinance to allow the temporary suspension of marijuana licenses even if there is a minor violation while rejecting a proposal for a cannabis golf outing in August. The small inland city with just more than 4,000 residents sits about 60 miles northeast of Traverse City and about 60 miles south of the Mackinac Bridge.
Stephen Hartz, Mike Ryan, Mayor Todd Sharrard and Vic Ouellette voted in favor of the motion while council members Jordan Awrey and Alan Witt were opposed.
Council changed the ordinance even after Ouellette cautioned against that action.
“If we change the ordinance we will be bombarded with (requests) for more cannabis outings,” he said.
517 Golf, a Michigan social media and marketing company, sought a change in the ordinance so it could host a celebrity golf outing on Aug. 28-29 at the Otsego Resort featuring John Daly and actor Christopher McDonald. Daly is a professional on the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions. McDonald portrayed Shooter McGavin in the movie “Happy Gilmore.”
