The State of Michigan is offering a total of $3 million in grants to counties to educate the communities on the state’s medical marijuana program, Barry County Administrator Michael Brown told commisioners on Wednesday.
The grants, through the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) were offered the late last November, giving county leaders little time to write a grant request and submit it before the Jan.1 deadline.
The Barry Eaton District Health Department has written a proposal that meets the requirements of the grant that would be used to conduct education related to the medical marijuana program, Brown said.
Brown called LARA to ask if there could be an extension on the deadline, and was told there would be no extension. To make sure the funds did not lapse and meet the Jan. 1 deadline, he submitted the grant on Dec. 28. He said no action was required Wednesday, “I just wanted to get it out to the board and the public.”
The topic will be on the committee of the whole agenda Jan. 15, with health department officials on hand to answer questions and request formal approval of the grant. The funds would go to education and outreach, but not law enforcement, he said.
The amount of the grants to individual counties depends on the number of medical marijuana cards issued in that county. Barry County is scheduled to get $16,413 (878 total patient cards issued and renewed).The grants range from $589 in Keweenaw County (32 patient cards) to $496,046 to Wayne County (26,535 patient cards).
