Attorneys for CDXX Boutique and Martin Township reached an agreement Friday in Allegan County District to allow the “head shop” business and marijuana exchange site to continue for 90 days.
Jerry Dan Patrick, owner of the boutique, said his attorneys plan to bring a site plan request before the Township Planning Commission soon after being told by Chairman Pete Zeinstra Sept. 1 that proper procedures were not followed.
CDXX Boutique, which pleaded no contest Friday, opened early last summer in the former post office building in downtown Shelbyville. The building had been vacant for some time, most recently housing the Mustard Seed variety business.
Township officials last month sent Professional Code Inspections to issue a notice that CDXX was violating a local ordinance and indicating it was under suspicion for illegally dispensing marijuana. Patrick has denied dispensing any marijuana and insists the boutique is a safe place for legal growers and patients to exchange money for product and he receives only donations from the parties involved.
The issue was brought to a head Sept. 1 in the Planning Commission’s public hearing on adopting a marijuana ordinance. About three dozen people showed up, all but one speaking on behalf of the boutique as a safe place for people legally to exchange what is protected under state law, but perhaps a target for undesirables to commit robbery or theft. They said marijuana helps them with medical issues and there isn’t any place close to home so they have to go as far as Grand Rapids or Kalamazoo.
The Planning Commission decided to table adoption of the ordinance, especially because Patrick insists he is not dispensing marijuana.
Township Trustee Jim Brenner, also a member of the Planning Commission, said, “I guess I came away from that meeting more open minded. It sounds like he (Patrick) is doing it right.”
But Brenner said the boutique ran into trouble because it did not appear before the Planning Commission first to discuss its plans.
So he said Marge Smith, secretary of the Planning Commission, is trying to set up a date in which most of the commissioners can have a special meeting.
Patrick apologized about not following procedures to local officials at the Township Board meeting Wednesday, saying, “We thought we had our bases covered. We are in the process now of taking care of that.”
PHOTO: Jerry Dan Patrick and his wife, Lisa Edwards, who runs the “head shop” part of CDXX Boutique, spoke to the Martin Township Board Wednesday evening.
