In the small Michigan city of Gaylord, the recreational use of marijuana is legal, but the city council isn’t ready to allow open consumption of the drug yet. In a recent vote, the council amended the city’s marijuana ordinance to temporarily suspend marijuana licenses, even for minor violations. Furthermore, the council declined a proposal for a cannabis golf outing featuring John Daly and Shooter McGavin.
The Decision
Gaylord is a small city in Central Michigan with just over 4,000 residents. The city council voted 4-2 to change the ordinance, with Stephen Hartz, Mike Ryan, Mayor Todd Sharrard, and Vic Ouellette voting in favor, while Jordan Awrey and Alan Witt opposed the motion. Ouellette cautioned against changing the ordinance, stating that it would lead to more requests for cannabis outings. Despite his concerns, the council changed the ordinance and rejected a proposal from 517 Golf, a Michigan social media and marketing company.
517 Golf wanted to host a celebrity golf outing on August 28-29 at the Otsego Resort, featuring John Daly, a professional on the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions, and actor Christopher McDonald, who portrayed Shooter McGavin in the movie “Happy Gilmore.” Initially, the group proposed the sale and consumption of cannabis and related products on the resort grounds during the event. However, they modified the proposal to permit only the consumption of marijuana in a designated area on the resort property.
Gary Vollmer, the owner of the Otsego Resort, told the council that they would serve alcohol and food like every other weekend, except that there would be a 3,000 square foot area for smoking cannabis. Vollmer also stated that a quasi-police force would ensure that people wouldn’t smoke outside of that designated area.
Concerns and Opposition
Despite the security measures outlined by Vollmer and 517 Golf officials, some people had concerns about the event. Rachel Smith, a resident near the resort, expressed concern about a large number of people consuming marijuana and alcohol, particularly because she has small children who use the backyard close to the Otsego Club property. Gaylord Police Chief Frank Claeys said that organizers had agreed to not allow alcohol consumption in the same area as marijuana.
However, these concerns were not enough to persuade a majority of the council to grant a license for the golf outing. As a result, it remains unclear whether the outing will take place without the use of marijuana.
Conclusion
The recent decision by the Gaylord City Council to decline a proposal for a cannabis golf outing has highlighted the challenges of balancing public safety with the growing acceptance of recreational marijuana use. While some residents expressed concerns about the potential risks associated with the event, others argued that it could provide a boost to the local economy. Regardless of the outcome, it is clear that the debate over marijuana use in public spaces is far from over.
FAQs
- Is the recreational use of marijuana legal in Gaylord, Michigan?
- Yes, the recreational use of marijuana is legal in Gaylord, Michigan.
- Did the Gaylord City Council approve a proposal for a cannabis golf outing?
- No, the council declined the proposal from 517 Golf to host a cannabis golf outing.
- Who were the celebrities that were supposed to be featured in the golf outing?
- John Daly, a professional on the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions, and actor Christopher McDonald, who portrayed Shooter McGavin in the movie “Happy Gilmore.”
- What were the concerns expressed by Rachel Smith, a resident near the resort?
- Smith was worried about a large number of people consuming marijuana and alcohol, particularly because she has small children who use the backyard close to the Otsego Club property.
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