There is hereby established a Marijuana License Review Committee (“MLRC”), which shall perform its duties and exercise its powers in accordance with this article.
Codified by Ord. No. 28-19 (JCC. 7/23/19, Pass. 9/10/19, App. 9/11/19, Pub. 9/20/19, Eff. 10/1/19); Amended by Ord. No. 2020-44 (JCC. 11/17/20, Pass. 11/24/20, App. 11/30/20, Pub. 12/18/20, Eff. 1/11/21).
The MLRC shall consist of a staff member of each of the departments and agencies that are identified in this section. The directors of the respective departments and the heads of the respective agencies identified in this section shall each appoint a qualified representative or representatives from among their respective staffs to serve on the MLRC. The respective departments and agencies that must appoint representatives to the MLRC are as follows:
(a) Office of the Chief Financial Officer. Assessor;
(b) Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department;
(c) Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Treasury;
(d) Health Department;
(e) Law Department;
(f) Police Department;
(g) Civil Rights, Inclusion, and Opportunity Department;
(h) Office of Sustainability;
(i) Department of Neighborhoods; and
(j) Such other departments, agencies, or individuals as deemed appropriate by the chairperson, on a case by case basis.
Codified by Ord. No. 28-19 (JCC. 7/23/19, Pass. 9/10/19, App. 9/11/19, Pub. 9/20/19, Eff. 10/1/19); Amended by Ord. No. 2020-44 (JCC. 11/17/20, Pass. 11/24/20, App. 11/30/20, Pub. 12/18/20, Eff. 1/11/21).
(a) The representative from the Civil Rights, Inclusion, and Opportunity Department serves as chairperson of the MLRC and shall maintain a record of applications, licenses granted under this Article and other relevant files as needed.
(b) The MLRC may meet in person or virtually at the call of the chairperson, and shall receive all materials for review electronically.
(c) The MLRC shall develop a standard of review for making recommendations on adult-use license applications under this article that shall be approved by the Detroit City Council prior to reviewing any adult-use license applications.
Codified by Ord. No. 28-19 (JCC. 7/23/19, Pass. 9/10/19, App. 9/11/19, Pub. 9/20/19, Eff. 10/1/19); Amended by Ord. No. 2020-44 (JCC. 11/17/20, Pass. 11/24/20, App. 11/30/20, Pub. 12/18/20, Eff. 1/11/21); Amended by Ord. No. 2021-13 (JCC. 3/16/21, Pass. 3/30/21, App. 3/31/21, Pub. 4/6/21, Eff. 3/31/21).
(a) New or renewal applications for a medical marijuana facility license or an adult-use marijuana establishment license shall be reviewed by the MLRC and a recommendation provided to the Department director before a license may be issued or renewed by the Department, in accordance with the applicable review criteria set forth in this article. For temporary marijuana events, the MLRC shall make its recommendation to the Detroit City Council, which must approve the temporary marijuana event, before a permit is issued by the Department.
(b) Each department representative shall be responsible for investigating the application within its department’s respective area of oversight, providing relevant information, reports or data to the MLRC for review, including, but not limited to the information set forth in Section 20-6-39.
(c) Through the Chair, the MLRC may communicate and meet with the applicant, visit the proposed site to be licensed, and request certain conditions be met prior to recommending approval of the issuance of a license.
(d) After December 31, 2021, and excluding temporary marijuana events, applications shall be reviewed and a recommendation provided by the MLRC to the Department within ninety (90) days of receipt of a complete application as determined by the MLRC, or the application shall be forwarded to the Department without recommendation.
(e) Every six months after the effective date of this ordinance, the MLRC will provide a report to the Detroit City Council including the following information:
(1) name of all applicants, date of application and application status;
(2) name of all licensees, locations, and license date;
(3) number of licenses issued by license category; and
(4) details of each applicant’s Good Neighbor Plan.
(f) Members of the MLRC shall take ethics training two times per calendar year, as provided by the City of Detroit.
Codified by Ord. No. 28-19 (JCC. 7/23/19, Pass. 9/10/19, App. 9/11/19, Pub. 9/20/19, Eff. 10/1/19); Amended by Ord. No. 2020-44 (JCC. 11/17/20, Pass. 11/24/20, App. 11/30/20, Pub. 12/18/20, Eff. 1/11/21).