Partly cloudy. Low 22F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..
Partly cloudy. Low 22F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.
Updated: March 1, 2026 @ 6:13 pm
Lining up at the URB Cannabis Super Store in New Buffalo during the 2024 4-20 celebration.
Lining up at the URB Cannabis Super Store in New Buffalo during the 2024 4-20 celebration.
NEW BUFFALO — The New Buffalo Township Board during its Feb. 17 meeting scheduled a series of hearing to consider special land use (SLU) conditions and possible revocations on five adult-use marijuana dispensaries beginning at 6 p.m. March 24.
Cited for reasons to hold the “Marijuana Establishment CRA/SLU Violations” sessions were alleged violations of state rules in areas that include: selling amounts of marijuana products that exceed the personal possession limit; various issues and shortcomings regarding surveillance systems; and requirements to notify the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs’ Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) and local law enforcement of criminal activity in a timely manner (the violations cited during the Township Board meeting varied from dispensary to dispensary).
Township officials said information on possible violations they wish to investigate further on March 24 were obtained from actions taken by the State CRA (it also was noted on Feb. 17 that the state’s actions and complaints against local dispensaries continue to be monitored).
Board members on Feb. 17 expressed interest in hearing representatives of the affected dispensaries describe the circumstances and state their cases regarding the various state actions and complaints.
The dispensaries slated to be the focus of the March 24 hearings following 5-0 votes by the Township Board are: Bloomery; Mint Cannabis; Trap Stars Outlet; Refine New Buffalo; and The Plug New Buffalo.
The Township Board unanimously rejected including two other dispensaries in the March 24 hearings – House of Dank; and JARS Cannabis.
Prior to scheduling the March 24 hearings, the Township Board approved a Marijuana Special Land Use Revocation Policy.
Also OK’d on Feb. 17 was an ordinance amendment that requires medical marijuana facilities and adult-use marijuana establishments to notify the township in writing within three days of receiving notice from LARA (Michigan Licensing and Regulatory Affairs) of a complaint or disciplinary action, and also states that such establishments are ineligible for outdoor assembly licenses for a period of 12 months after a LARA complaint or disciplinary action.
Another topic of discussion (and ultimately action) on Feb. 17 was approving outdoor assembly permits for dispensaries on and around the April 20 (4/20) marijuana “holiday.”
A resolution was passed during the meeting limiting the number of outdoor assemblies on April 17, April 18, April 19, and April 20 to seven per day.
Outdoor assembly permits approved on Feb. 17 were: Levels (9 a.m.-5p.m. April 18): Puff (9 a.m.-9 p.m. April 19 & 20); Urb (9 a.m.-9 p.m. April 20); Puff (May 1 & 2 9 a.m.-9 p.m.); Mango (9 a.m.-9 p.m. March 28); Cookies ((9 a.m.-9 p.m. March 21); King of Budz (9 a.m.-9 p.m. April 20); Mango (9 a.m.-9 p.m. April 20); Cannabis Club (9 a.m.-9 p.m. April 19 & 20).
Action was tabled on two April 20 assembly requests (Cookies and Kush E Mart) to get further information on parking.
Preliminary SLU extensions for a series of not-completed dispensaries were approved – and one was rejected – during the Feb. 17 meeting.
The board voted 5-0 against a proposed 6-month extension for Joyology at 19393 U.S. 12.
Approved were: a 6-week extension for LJA Holdings VI, LLC, at 19563 U.S. 12; a 3-month extension for PER IV, LLC at 13944 Grand Ave.; a 3-month extension for JMS 75 LLC at 19511 U.S. 12; and a 3-month extension for Attitude Wellness LLC at 19471 U.S. 12.
At the beginning of the Feb. 17 meeting, Township Supervisor Michelle Heit said the following regarding a recent Town Hall session held at the Public Safety Building:
“With hindsight, there are always things you might approach differently. In this case, additional buffers may have helped prevent such a high concentration in certain areas of dispensaries. At the same time, there were locations we hope to encourage development, and we genuinely believe the market would ultimately determine how many establishments marijuana establishments would move forward. I still believe the market forces will play a role over time. Every member of the Township Board lives in the Buffalo Township and cares deeply about this community.
My own family has been in the Buffalo Township for more than a hundred and seventy years. My roots here run deep, and so has my commitment to the Township and the people who call it home. Thank you again to those who participated, and please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have further questions or concerns.”
Township Treasurer Patty Iazzetto added the following:
“I appreciate the feedback that was shared at the Town Hall earlier this month, and as a resident for 55 years in the house I was raised in and the house I continue to live in and have raised my children in, this is the place I call home, it always has been, and it always will be. I care deeply about the community and the people who call it home. I welcome visitors, new neighbors, and businesses. A strong community grows when we listen to each other, respect our shared history, and work together toward a future we can all be proud of. Please know that I am here, as well as Michelle and Michelle, from 9 to 4, Monday through Friday, to serve you.”
In other Feb. 17 matters, the New Buffalo Township Board:
Agreed to purchase an ATV side-by-side with basic outfitting for the fire department for an amount not to exceed $40,000 (the cost is expected to be less and it was earlier noted that the Friends of the New Buffalo Township Fire Depaetment have received a couple of large donations to go towards the ATV).
Lt. Thad Chartrand of the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office reported that cargo crime has become a concern at the Welcome Center along I-94, noting “many semi trucks are getting targeted in the evening hours.” He added that local police are working closely with the State Police and MDOT to identify a suspect vehicle. He also warned against increasing fraud activity involving bank accounts.
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