Cass Corridor + A Legal Cannabis Industry

**DetroitTitan** · February-18-10, 07:39 PM

I'm going to start this thread with something of a disclaimer: I mean this thread from an entirely economic standpoint.

With Cass Corridor [[Southern Midtown: with Martin Luther King Blvd to the North, Woodward Ave to the East, I-75 to the South, and the John C. Lodge Freeway to the West) just south of the growing Wayne State, a rebounding Brush Park to the west, Cass Corridor has great potential with its close proximity to the CBD. I can see Cass Ave becoming a walkable friendly corridor coming off of Wayne State resident areas with decent retail to support Midtown's growing population. The Corridor has some great physical assets like Masonic Temple, Cass Tech, and Cass Park. I followed the 2008 Michigan Proposal 1 process pretty closely because I am a firm believer that a more liberal Michigan equates to economic growth and prosperity. If cannabis itself was totally legalized and regulated as an actual industry, economic growth based on marijuana would be substantial. Putting aside the legalities of legalization, if the State of Michigan allowed certain zones for a legal cannabis industry to develop, it would be a real economic stimulus. If Cass Corridor was coupled with the cannabis growing, processing, light industry, cannabis retail, a vital piece of Detroit would become a growth neighborhood. Discuss. Debate

**mogo** · February-18-10, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by DetroitTitan

I'm going to start this thread with something of a disclaimer: I mean this thread from an entirely economic standpoint.

With Cass Corridor [[Southern Midtown: with Martin Luther King Blvd to the North, Woodward Ave to the East, I-75 to the South, and the John C. Lodge Freeway to the West) just south of the growing Wayne State, a rebounding Brush Park to the west, Cass Corridor has great potential with its close proximity to the CBD. I can see Cass Ave becoming a walkable friendly corridor coming off of Wayne State resident areas with decent retail to support Midtown's growing population. The Corridor has some great physical assets like Masonic Temple, Cass Tech, and Cass Park. I followed the 2008 Michigan Proposal 1 process pretty closely because I am a firm believer that a more liberal Michigan equates to economic growth and prosperity. If cannabis itself was totally legalized and regulated as an actual industry, economic growth based on marijuana would be substantial. Putting aside the legalities of legalization, if the State of Michigan allowed certain zones for a legal cannabis industry to develop, it would be a real economic stimulus. If Cass Corridor was coupled with the cannabis growing, processing, light industry, cannabis retail, a vital piece of Detroit would become a growth neighborhood. Discuss. Debate

It would be great for our urban farmers. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

I think Detroit's focus has to be on Woodward and Jefferson/Riverwalk. We need something that makes people with money want to come to Detroit with their families to visit an identifiable positive area. Any potential economic benefit of a marijuana district would be greatly outweighed by the damage it would do to our already tarnished image.

I would rather see Detroit reach out to the immigrant communities in the suburbs to work with them on rehabilitating the other areas [[Cass Corridor, Capitol Park) to create a Little India, Chinatown, Little Arabia, etc. These communities are energized about their culture and seem to be able to make things work where others fail. We could use that in the city.

**detroitsgwenivere** · February-18-10, 09:43 PM

I like your positive pro cannibus ideas, as i'm sure others do. Several communities in Detroit are embracing urban farming and cannibus is a well known and accepted cash crop. If the urban farmers were able to get grant money for large scale cultivation or even grow and sell their harvests legally without fear of persecution, we could easily become a mecca of responsible growth, profit margin, and ag jobs related to marijuana.

.

**DetroitTitan** · February-18-10, 10:51 PM

A marijuana district [[if regulated carefully) would make Detroit once more a destination for suburbanites. People would travel to Cass Corridor. The city itself is very liberal already concerning marijuana. I don't believe it would add any stigma to Detroit. Amsterdam isn't looked down upon, its a world-famous destination. Such a progressive initiative and district would put Detroit on the map as the Amsterdam of America, we would leapfrog California in liberal/progressive movement. Why not process marijuana along Cass Ave? Cannabis pulp for paper? That's called industry and jobs. Case closed. Win-Win

**Jimaz** · February-18-10, 11:29 PM

Attachment 5240
A Brief History of Weed

From 2727 B.C. to the present, Weeds presents a brief history of cannabis.

**DetroitPlanner** · February-18-10, 11:35 PM

Why not just legalize crack cocaine or hookers? That would cause economic development! Why Windsor has legal hookers, look at how much better the economy is there! Wait even better, lets legalize torture just think of the jobs that would be created by sickos looking to beat the hell out of people. How about legalizing 2,000 calorie big macs, I'm sure some people would love to eat those too. That could create jobs.

The point I am trying to make here is that this law was not established for this. Even a hypothetical link as you propose will not work because growing is not allowed for in large quantities. Not everyone who is sick will want to smoke or ingest brownies. This is simply an alternative to prescribing Marinol. An abuse of this law will ultimately lead to the repeal of the law.

Linking of this is just as silly as linking hemp farms to the anti afirmative action law that was passed a few years ago to this same proposal. The two don't fit.

**dookie joe** · February-18-10, 11:50 PM

I like the idea of a Cass Corridor marijuana industry. They could develop different strains of weed and market them under Corridor-centric names like Peterboro Gold, Charlotte Web, Brainard Red and Third-Stick.

**Warrenite84** · February-18-10, 11:51 PM

I don't recommend passing thru that area, the cops are as thick as ticks looking for johns to bust.

**Jimaz** · February-18-10, 11:52 PM

Attachment 5241
History of Weed Part II

Going all the way back to 8000 B.C, Weeds presents another look at the history of cannabis.

**Gsgeorge** · February-19-10, 01:33 AM

Originally Posted by DetroitTitan

A marijuana district [[if regulated carefully) would make Detroit once more a destination for suburbanites. People would travel to Cass Corridor. The city itself is very liberal already concerning marijuana. I don't believe it would add any stigma to Detroit. Amsterdam isn't looked down upon, its a world-famous destination. Such a progressive initiative and district would put Detroit on the map as the Amsterdam of America, we would leapfrog California in liberal/progressive movement. Why not process marijuana along Cass Ave? Cannabis pulp for paper? That's called industry and jobs. Case closed. Win-Win

I agree, I have always though Michigan & Detroit were missing an opportunity with marijuana legislation and allowing dispensaries. Detroit is the perfect environment for soft marijuana legalization because it already has a reputation as a city of vice. The idea is to take that reputation and market it, turn it inside out, taking it from the hands of the criminals and regulating it, just like the casinos. I would wager it would even cut down on street crime significantly, and have the effect of 'gentrifying' stretches of the Corridor, pushing out the hookers & crack addicts and bringing in the artists, young adults who grew up in the city, and young professionals. It could be a very diverse neighborhood.

I have also felt Detroit needs a kind of bohemian coffee house where absinthe and other alcoholic drinks are sold, in addition to nicely brewed coffee.

People visit Detroit for an off-the-beaten path experience, so let's capitalize on that. It would be better than the strip clubs & casinos.

**mauser** · February-19-10, 05:13 AM

The current law doesnt allow for dispensaries, so this thread is completely hypothetical.

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

Why not just legalize crack cocaine or hookers? That would cause economic development!

Where were you when they legalized coffee and tea ? Get those demon drugs off the streets !

**redfordman** · February-19-10, 08:09 AM

Originally Posted by DetroitTitan

I'm going to start this thread with something of a disclaimer: I mean this thread from an entirely economic standpoint.

With Cass Corridor [[Southern Midtown: with Martin Luther King Blvd to the North, Woodward Ave to the East, I-75 to the South, and the John C. Lodge Freeway to the West) just south of the growing Wayne State, a rebounding Brush Park to the west, Cass Corridor has great potential with its close proximity to the CBD. I can see Cass Ave becoming a walkable friendly corridor coming off of Wayne State resident areas with decent retail to support Midtown's growing population. The Corridor has some great physical assets like Masonic Temple, Cass Tech, and Cass Park. I followed the 2008 Michigan Proposal 1 process pretty closely because I am a firm believer that a more liberal Michigan equates to economic growth and prosperity. If cannabis itself was totally legalized and regulated as an actual industry, economic growth based on marijuana would be substantial. Putting aside the legalities of legalization, if the State of Michigan allowed certain zones for a legal cannabis industry to develop, it would be a real economic stimulus. If Cass Corridor was coupled with the cannabis growing, processing, light industry, cannabis retail, a vital piece of Detroit would become a growth neighborhood. Discuss. Debate

I love your thinking!!!

**DetroitPlanner** · February-19-10, 08:19 AM

Originally Posted by mauser

The current law doesnt allow for dispensaries, so this thread is completely hypothetical.

Where were you when they legalized coffee and tea ? Get those demon drugs off the streets !

Ya can't discuss or debate when everything is one sided. Now off the the Gaurdian and get me some illy!

Blarf · February-20-10, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

Why not just legalize crack cocaine or hookers?

Those should be legalized too.

**detroitbob66** · February-21-10, 10:05 PM

The Cass Corridor has no limits as it is.....anyone can do this in the corridor and they probably wouldn't hit any barriers. LOL

**casscorridor** · February-22-10, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by mogo

It would be great for our urban farmers. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

I think Detroit's focus has to be on Woodward and Jefferson/Riverwalk. We need something that makes people with money want to come to Detroit with their families to visit an identifiable positive area. Any potential economic benefit of a marijuana district would be greatly outweighed by the damage it would do to our already tarnished image.

I would rather see Detroit reach out to the immigrant communities in the suburbs to work with them on rehabilitating the other areas [[Cass Corridor, Capitol Park) to create a Little India, Chinatown, Little Arabia, etc. These communities are energized about their culture and seem to be able to make things work where others fail. We could use that in the city.

I defiantly disagree that it would do more damage than hurt to have a marijuana district. I think it would be great! It would put us on the map as a cannabis center. It could be like techtown, only for weed. New cannabis related businesses could sprout up. Medical dispensaries, cannabis clothing stores, cannabis schools, accessories shop. We could call it the greenlight district. lol

I do, however, agree with you about focusing on Jefferson and Woodward. I totally think the next light-rail line should be Jefferson, it makes sense because Jefferson has the most development potential second to Woodward. I also agree that we should attract immigrants to form intentional communities in the city. Rebuild Chinatown as a far east asia district? Japaneese, korean, thai and chineese restaurants could be clustered here along with cultural attractions and shops.

**Ocean2026** · February-22-10, 04:19 PM

Detroit Planner you claim "the [[marijuana) laws were not made for this". Perhaps before you can be a planner you need some education about where the laws came from, why they were enacted and the difference between crack and pot.
To put it briefly the first marijuana law took place in El Paso Texas in 1911 as an anti immigration measure due to a loophole in the McCarran Act. Next California voted to make it illegal claiming it to be a "measure against the red and other races". Pot is all political and the reason its illegal is because a very powerful segment of our society benefits from its illegality. This includes more jobs for police, prosecutors, bailiffs, judges, attorneys and the secretaries for all of the above- chemists, probation officers, jailers - do you get the picture? As for the difference between crack and pot - it seems like you're doing them both at the same time just before you post. Lay off for a bit.

Yikes you call yourself a planner? I guess online you can make yourself whatever you imagine.

**milesdriven** · February-25-10, 11:20 AM

I've been obtaining my glaucoma medication from different distributors across Detroit for many years, and it would be great if these distributors could set up brick-and-mortar shops and pay taxes.