Milan ready to approve Marijuana dispensaries in city
The Milan City Council approved an amendment to its marijuana ordinance at its regular meeting Tuesday.
Council members voted unanimously to approve the ordinance as amended, opening the way for marijuana provisioners — medical, recreational and growers — to make applications to set up businesses in Milan.
The amended ordinance allows for up to two retail locations in the city. Mayor Ed Kolar explained that the ordinance limits the number of sales facilities to just two so the city will not be overrun by marijuana sellers.
Kolar pointed to the financial advantages for the city’s budget with marijuana retailers in town.
“About $50,000 to $100,000 a year, easily obtainable,” he said.
Besides income from the local marijuana businesses, Milan will receive profit sharing from the state.
“We’ll be sharing from other towns that are in the system,” he said.
“Residents will love the income, to fix the roads,” Kolar said. “Some people don’t like it and think it’s a bad image. But it will look good, and hopefully it won’t bring in crime spikes.”
If a grow facility is established outside the downtown area, in an industrial zone, that could increase the revenue for the city, Kolar said.
“The city could get up to $200,000 annually, that is a financial boon to the city,” he said.
Farmable property is in an industrial-zoned area south of Redman Road near Platt Road inside the city limits. Another potential spot for marijuana farming could be in a farming area near the Love’s truck stop, which is also inside the Milan city limits.
In deciding to pass the ordinance, the Milan City Council looked at the statewide election in 2018, which placed marijuana on the ballot. Kolar noticed that a good majority of Milan residents — about 65% — voted in favor of legalizing the sale of marijuana at that time.
Kolar does not see marijuana shops as a significant crime issue.
“We were always worried about that,” Kolar said. “Our police chief has found there is no increase in crime based on marijuana.”.
“Statistics don’t say it will bring a rash of crime to a small town,” Kolar said. “No more than a liquor store. And Milan liquor stores are pretty darned safe.”
Kolar says he is satisfied that the marijuana ordinance will be positive for the city.
“We took our time. We let other towns figure this out,” he said.
