MUSKEGON, MI – Marijuana events, including those allowing consumption, could be held at Muskegon’s downtown arena and baseball stadium under a plan to further “embrace” the city’s burgeoning cannabis industry.
The city’s planning commission endorsed the idea that goes before the city commission later this month.
The proposal would allow temporary events, such as trade shows, at the Mercy Health Arena on West Western Avenue downtown, and at Marsh Field, at the corner of Laketon Avenue and Peck Street.
Muskegon already has been welcoming to recreational marijuana shops, with about two dozen currently operating in the city. Many are in an “overlay district” along Laketon Avenue and Peck Street near the baseball stadium.
Mayor Ken Johnson told MLive it “makes sense” to allow temporary marijuana events at Marsh Field given its proximity to several retail shops.
“Let’s embrace the cannabis industry that’s here,” Johnson said. “Let it be part of our tourism. Let it be part of making us a destination.”
Those wanting to hold a marijuana event would need to apply for a special event license from the city, and a registered temporary marijuana event coordinator would have to apply for a license from the state.
Smoking of marijuana would not be allowed during the any events at the arena, where smoking is not allowed. However, it’s possible that edible cannabis products could be consumed there.
Staff is proposing the entire arena property, including outdoors, be open to marijuana events.
Muskegon City Manager Frank Peterson told MLive that not many other communities are allowing marijuana events in larger facilities, meaning Muskegon could be well positioned to host cannabis-related conventions.
Such events also could be a revenue-generator for the arena and the historic baseball field that is home to the Muskegon Clippers, a summer collegiate team.
“We think the cannabis industry can support these buildings more,” Peterson said.
Rair, a recreational marijuana retail shop in Muskegon, is a sponsor of the arena during Muskegon Lumberjacks games, he said.
Temporary marijuana events currently are allowed at approved marijuana retail locations in the city’s marijuana overlay district. The city commission on March 8 will consider adding the arena and ballfield to the list of permissible event locations.
New Standard Park Place hosted the first such outdoor event in West Michigan, a “Halloweed” party in October 2021.
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