The township council solidified its stance on legal cannabis on Tuesday, passing an ordinance to allow weed businesses to operate in Franklin. The law permits all six classes of cannabis business licenses in the township and slots them into the existing zoning framework.
Each of the license types – cultivator, manufacturer, wholesale, retailer and delivery – are attached to their appropriate zones. For instance, in the commercial-focused business and industry zone, where retail shops are generally prohibited, residents won’t see dispensaries popping up. But in existing retail zones, like the general business and neighborhood business districts, cannabis retailers can open up shop.
The ordinance is the legislative realization of a motion passed in March, in which the council expressed interest in bringing the nascent industry into Franklin. At the time, officials said they would be leaving money on the table if they tried to ban potential job creators and tax-paying businesses.
“If they come to town, they can be quite a significant ratable, whether or not we adopt a 2% tax on it,” said Councilman Ted Chase in March.
And they did adopt a 2% tax on most cannabis sales in the township, taking advantage of the maximum allowed by the state, which will be in addition to the state sales tax.