Detroit's cityscape, often dotted with marijuana advertisements, may soon see a change if a proposed ordinance gains traction. The legislation, introduced by City Council member Angela Whitfield Calloway, aims to keep cannabis billboards away from areas frequented by children, such as schools, libraries, and playgrounds. According to ClickOnDetroit, the ordinance would forbid such advertisements within a 1000-foot radius of these "sensitive service areas."
In September alone, Wayne County saw an influx of marijuana sales surpassing $29 million, potentially fueled by these pervasive promotional displays. The concern escalated when a young man articulated his distress over the influence of marijuana billboards on his peers, propelling Councilwoman Calloway to propose the measure. She is quoted, "We had a kid here back in May who was crying. He was talking about how many there are and how he’s concerned about his friends, seeing them every day, possibly starting to use at an early age," Calloway said, as per ClickOnDetroit.
The ordinance echoes already existing restrictions placed on tobacco companies, which disallow advertising within the same distance from schools. FOX 2 Detroit reveals that Councilwoman Calloway intends to extend this stipulation to embrace marijuana companies as well. "It’s an over-proliferation of cannabis billboards in this city, and everybody knows it," said Angela Whitfield Calloway.
Opposition to the ordinance surfaces from figures like Mark Savaya, owner of several provisioning centers, who questioned the effectiveness of the proposed regulations. Speaking with FOX 2 Detroit, Savaya states, "Let me ask you something, the majority of these billboards are on highways so they’re not near any daycare or anything like that - I don’t think so." Calloway immediately countered, "I don't know if that's true or not. That's what he says, but we’re gonna find out."
Further impetus for the ordinance stems from concerns over the impact of advertising on youth behavior and its normalization of marijuana. Citing an alarming increase in school incidents relating to marijuana use, the restrictions are viewed as a step toward mitigating early exposure to substance use. "Earlier this year, (Detroit Public Schools Community District) Superintendent Nikolai Vitti expressed concerns about the proliferation of marijuana in schools, which has been exacerbated by the legalization of marijuana in Michigan in 2018," Whitfield Calloway told the Detroit Free Press in a statement.
