FAQs • Royal Oak, MI • CivicEngage

Will this create more problems with the minors in our city?: Police Chief O’Donohue believes that the passage of this law will make marijuana more prevalent and accessible, including for minors. However, he believes will be the case regardless of whether Royal Oak allows provisioning centers (retail outlets.)

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Law Enforcement Questions

1. Is it possible that marijuana provisioning centers (retail outlets) will provide a safer product within a safe environment to make a purchase when wanted and needed?: Police Chief O’Donohue personally does not think marijuana is safe. However, he believes if the state regulations work as advertised, a person who purchases marijuana from a licensed provisioning center should at least have a better understanding on the strain and THC content of the marijuana they are purchasing.

2. Royal Oak was just named one of America’s safest cities and now the city wants to attract crime? Why?: At this time, there is no evidence to support the legalization of marijuana will create a significant rise in serious crimes. Law enforcement anticipates legalized marijuana will result in lower level violations and quality of life issues.

3. With all the bars in Royal Oak, will this create additional problems for our Police Department?: As with the question above, Police Chief O’Donohue does not anticipate any significant increase in serious crime. Lower level violations and quality of life issues are the police department’s main concern.

4. How does law enforcement shift from marijuana being illegal and prosecuted to a whole new world of legal cannabis?: The passage of this law means we have a new normal for law enforcement and do not yet know exactly what will happen. To the degree possible, law enforcement will not allow personal biases to influence how the laws are enforced.

5. What constitutes legal selling at this point? Are you only allowed to sell a certain amount per day per buyer?: The law only addresses licensed provisioning centers and limits the daily amount to 2.5 ounces per day, however, there does appear to be several loopholes that might potentially allow for higher amounts and sales outside of licensed facilities. Also, actually enforcing illegal sales will be difficult, if not impossible.

6. Who do you believe will be the customers for legal outlets?: There is no way to project who may choose to purchase marijuana for their personal use.

7. Is there a way to test if a driver is under the influence of the drug?: There is no readily available roadside test.

8. Will this create more problems with the minors in our city?: Police Chief O’Donohue believes that the passage of this law will make marijuana more prevalent and accessible, including for minors. However, he believes will be the case regardless of whether Royal Oak allows provisioning centers (retail outlets.)

9. What is the age limit and how will this be verified?: The legal age of possession or use of marijuana is 21, as verified by a government-issued ID.