Must read! This is the template they will use for future racist policies!-----Detroit marijuana licensing program ‘likely unconstitutional,’ says federal judge who shut it down

Detroit marijuana licensing program ‘likely unconstitutional,’ says federal judge who shut it down

"Detroit’s marijuana licensing program that gives preferential treatment to longtime residents suffered a potentially lethal legal blow Thursday when a federal judge wrote that it is “likely unconstitutional” and issued a preliminary injunction halting the program indefinitely.

...‘The city ordinance governing the process for obtaining a recreational marijuana retail license gives an unfair, irrational, and likely unconstitutional advantage to long-term Detroit residents over all other applicants,” Judge Friedman wrote.

...Detroit Councilman James Tate, who spearheaded creation of Detroit’s ordinance, said he’s “disappointed” by the ruling and ensures “no adult-use licenses will be issued in the city unless Detroit residents are provided the ability to truly compete for the same wealth building opportunities that other communities have benefited from in the cannabis industry.”

“Social equity policies like the Detroit Legacy portion of our licensing ordinance always come under attack when there are genuine efforts to remove excessive barriers and create a more just process for those who have been harmed by the system,” Tate said. 

“Our intention for crafting such legislation was never to prevent anyone from participating in the recreational marijuana industry but to ensure that the long-standing residents of this city – residents who have endured ill effects of the nation’s ‘War on Drugs’ through mass incarceration, punitive hiring policies, blight and generational poverty -- have a fair shot of participating in a potentially lucrative opportunity for Detroit.”

The Detroit marijuana licensing program defines legacy applicants as those

• who have lived in the city for 15 of the last 30 years; 
• have lived in the city for 13 of the last 30 years and are low income; 
• or have lived in the city for 10 of the last 30 years and have a marijuana conviction 
• or a parent with a marijuana conviction.

It gave various perks to legacy applicants, including

• a head start on application processing. .
• Legacy applicants were also to receive a 99% discount on licensing fees in 2021,
• a 75% discount on licensing fees in 2022, and 
• the opportunity to purchase city-owned land for 25% of the market value...
• The Detroit licensing plan calls for no less than 50% of up to 75 new retail businesses to be owned by legacy residents and the 50% legacy minimum applies to most other license types...Read all!!!!