Public Vote for Hancock Marijuana Sales?

Should the future of recreational marijuana in Hancock be decided by city voters?

That was one of the suggestions that came out of the informational meeting held by the city council last night. Mayor Paul Lavine was open to it…

While 57 percent of city voters supported the statewide proposal that legalized recreational marijuana last November, former mayor John Haeussler noted that voters in two downstate communities that also favored Proposal A turned thumbs down on allowing commercial sales in their cities in Tuesday’s election.

Haeussler suggested that many who voted in favor of Proposition A did so because they favored the personal liberty it presented, not because they want the product to be commercialized.

A sparse crowd of around two dozen people attended the session at the Finnish-American Heritage Center. Several spoke against the concept of locating marijuana establishments in the downtown business district.

Pete Wickley leads the Downtown Development Authority… which expressed its concern in a letter to the council after a meeting Monday night…

The Copper Country Intermediate School District has also expressed its opposition to the downtown plan, which could allow retail sales near the Career and Technical Education Center.

Proponents noted, however, that there are already stores that sell liquor, firearms, tobacco and vaping products within the proposed area.

The earliest that a city-wide vote could be taken would be next May. A specific ordinance would need to be written to be placed on the ballot for voters to approve or disapprove.