MENOMINEE — Mayor Casey Hoffman sees a deeply divided Menominee City Council over marijuana regulations and licensing.
Puff Cannabis Co. owner Nick Hannawa is frustrated and just wants to be a good partner with the city, while his legal team — led by attorney Jennifer K. Green — is prepared to play hardball.
Council member Steve Fifarek is tired of the cannabis conversations and wants to see things settled through litigation.
How it all shakes out is anybody’s guess. The council met in closed session for 90 minutes Thursday night with attorney Kimberly Coschino of Cummings, McClorey, Davis & Acho, the Traverse City law firm representing the city. She was filling in for attorney Matt Cross from the same firm. City Attorney Michael Celello and City Manager Brett Botbyl were not at the meeting. Neither was council member Doug Robinson, who has not attended a city meeting since mid-summer.
Fifarek said Thursday’s closed session meeting didn’t change anything for him.
“There was a lot of chasing your tail around repeating basically the same thing with different words,” he said. “I think we should just go to litigation, get it over with and be done with it.”
Hoffman fears that litigation could take years and be costly to the city. During closed session, the council considered a settlement that would have resolved the legal dispute between Puff Cannabis and Menominee. “Signing that settlement would mean Puff Cannabis would be the ninth dispensary in Menominee,” Hoffman said. “The City Council considered the settlement and took no action.”
Hoffman added, “Half of the City Council wants litigation, half wants to settle right now, we’re at a stalemate.”
He urged voters to elect new representatives to move Menominee forward. Two new council members will be chosen Tuesday as Robinson and William Plemel are not seeking re-election.
Hoffman compared Menominee’s situation to Peninsula Township, where delays cost taxpayers millions. “That could happen here if we don’t abide by the law regulating cannabis companies like Puff,” he said.
“Every day that Puff remains closed, they are losing money,” Hoffman continued. “Without action, Puff Cannabis could sue the city for millions.”
Attorney Green said Puff met every deadline and acted in good faith. Hannawa said his company has invested millions. “We’ve done everything right,” he said. “We’ve always complied and earned our licenses. Ask any Michigan official — they’ll tell you Puff is a good company.”
Puff plans to appeal next week and possibly seek lost revenue. “We’ll fight the ballot initiative,” Green said. “It doesn’t comply with MRTMA and it’s not applicable to Puff.”
Despite the tension, Hannawa insists Puff still wants to be a good neighbor. “We still plan to give back,” he said. “We’re good people and we’re a good company.”