Pot shops pay more than their fair share

The recent closing of a marijuana dispensary has prompted the usual “hoorays” from folks who wish all four Hamtramck outlets would go away.
These folks claim that dispensaries are magnets for crime and the peddling of drugs – even if the drug in question is legal marijuana.
Just like liquor stores, marijuana dispensaries require one to be at least 21 years old to purchase their product. It’s up to each person whether or not to consume these products – not a group of self-appointed moralists.
Critics also fail to realize the significance of revenue each dispensary pays to the city and state. For the city, each outlet represents about $50,000 each year.
The state receives over a billion dollars a year in revenue from all the dispensaries and cannabis-related companies in Michigan.
To those critics: show us another type of retail outlet that pays that much money each year in taxes and fees.
Not surprisingly, some of these same critics advocate abolishing the city income tax. We get it, no one likes to pay taxes, but taxes pay for our public services — such as public safety, schools and road repairs — just to name a few things.
Chasing away legitimate retail outlets is not only an act of ignorance, but also sends out a terrible message to those thinking about investing in the city.
The message being heard is: “Hamtramck does not welcome you – go away.”
And, for those who object to dispensaries: don’t go to them — but let other adults decide on their own whether to partake.
Posted July 14, 2023