Detroit Pot Shops To Get 30 Days To Apply For License

DETROIT (AP) - Medical marijuana shops in Detroit will have 30 days beginning March 1 to apply to legally operate in the city under new laws.

The city's top lawyer, Melvin Hollowell, told the City Council on Tuesday that the 211 medical marijuana shops in the city have to meet the requirements and timetable to apply for a license or be subject to closure.

The new laws, which take effect March 1, require store operators to get a business license designed for medical marijuana stores. They also prohibit shops from operating within 1,000 feet of places including churches, schools and parks, though stores can apply for a variance.

Council President Brenda Jones pressed for a strategy to shut down illegal shops. Hollowell said violations would be handled on a case-by-case basis and that he didn't feel comfortable discussing enforcement plans publicly.