Debate over marijuana policy dominated Monday night’s Menominee City Council meeting as residents voiced concerns about dispensary locations, lawsuits, and public safety.  During his State of the City address, Mayor Casey Hoffman highlighted the financial impact cannabis has had on the city, saying marijuana tax revenue has erased budget shortfalls and created a surplus.

But Hoffman also warned about the social impact, saying highly potent products are reaching children and raised concerns about a proposed dispensary location near Holy Spirit Catholic Church and the Boys & Girls Club.

Public comment stretched more than an hour, with residents criticizing ongoing lawsuits involving Puff Cannabis and Highwire Farms, which together total more than 150 million dollars. Several speakers urged the council to reconsider how dispensary licenses were approved and questioned the city’s legal strategy moving forward.  City leaders say mediation is still underway and decisions in the coming weeks could determine the financial future of Menominee.

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