KALAMAZOO, MI — The city of Kalamazoo will hold a special meeting Monday to talk about potential regulation related to recreational marijuana.

The public is invited to a special work session meeting of the Kalamazoo City Commission at 6 p.m. Monday, April 29, in the community room at Kalamazoo City Hall, 241 W. South St.

City Attorney Clyde Robinson said on Friday, April 26, he was preparing a presentation for Monday’s meeting and still determining whether or not he will make any recommendations to the city commission.

“There are some nuances that I have to take some time to explain,” Robinson said.

The meeting is meant to give the city commissioners a basis to decide whether they want to allow recreational marijuana businesses in the city, or to opt out, he said. The presentation will touch on what Michigan’s new law says, what options it provides to the city and the history surrounding the issue.

He called it a workshop meeting that will also probably include a question and answer session with commissioners. Citizens are welcome to offer comment during a specified part of the meeting, Robinson said.

Michigan voters approved a proposal in 2018 to legalize the adult use and possession of marijuana. In the wake of legalization, several businesses have popped up across the state, embracing the loosening regulations in a variety of ways.

In Kalamazoo, Rupert’s Brewhouse is allowing marijuana use on site during private club events. The business celebrated the unofficial cannabis holiday of 4/20 on April 20 with one of the events and posted a photograph of owner Mark Rupert holding a flame to a large joint.

The state is currently working to establish rules for recreational marijuana businesses.

An unofficial document provided by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, updated on April 18, shows eight governments in Kalamazoo County that have opted out of allowing recreational marijuana businesses, at this time: Brady Township, Charleston Township, Cooper Charter Township, Portage, Prairie Ronde Township, Ross Township, Schoolcraft and Texas Charter Township. Additionally, Galesburg opted out of allowing recreational marijuana on April 1.

Adjacent to Kalamazoo, in Portage, the city commission voted in November 2018 to prohibit recreational marijuana businesses within city limits, with plans to revisit the issue in the future. Portage City Manager Larry Shaffer said in April that he plans to continue to recommend to the city commission stand down on further action on the issue until after the state has developed its rules.