MENOMINEE, Mich. (WLUC) – Voters in the City of Menominee will again be able to decide how many marijuana stores can be in the city.

In August, voters were in favor of limiting the number of dispensaries in the city to nine. But a circuit court judge invalidated the results of that special election.

Michigan law requires ballot initiatives be on the same ballot as candidates up for election. That’s one reason the results of the election in August were overturned.

But the city is facing more legal trouble from Puff Cannabis Company, a dispensary that’s been ready to open for months.

“In our mind, the election is irrelevant because the law that applies to Puff is the law that was in place currently, which is that there’s an unlimited number of licenses available,” said Puff Cannabis Attorney & Clark Hill Partner Jennifer Green. “So, the election in our mind, will only buy more litigation for the citizens of Menominee.”

Puff Cannabis Vice President & Chief Legal Counsel Nick Hannawa says the Menominee location has a full staff ready to begin working when the company is given the green light.

“They have not found other work,” Hannawa said. “I met with somebody yesterday. We are paying some of our employees that we had hired, so, we do have payroll actively going because, like I said, they moved up here for the job or they left other jobs and we don’t want to leave them with nothing.”

No matter the results of Tuesday’s re-vote, City of Menominee Mayor Casey Hoffman expects 13 dispensaries, including Puff, to eventually be operational in the city.

“We have a policy solution in place to prevent these lawsuits,” said Hoffman. “We have a lawsuit prevention amendment and a marijuana reduction amendment. Both of these have gone before the council, and the council voted them down. It’s time for a new council. If you don’t like the way the table is set, turn over the table, send me new people to work with and we will get this done.”

Menominee City Council held a meeting Thursday night to discuss a potential settlement with Puff Cannabis. Hoffman says no matter what, the ballot measure will be voted on in Tuesday’s election.

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