(La Porte, IN) - If Indiana legalizes the sale of marijuana, a request is being made for it to remain illegal in the city of La Porte.

 

The request was made during last night’s La Porte City Council meeting by Wally Brath, a former police chief in the city.  Brath fears La Porte becoming like it is now along Michigan 239 and U.S. 12 in New Buffalo Township where about 30 marijuana dispensaries exist.

 

“If and when this is legalized and I’m sure that it will be, we will see those establishments buy up every empty store and empty lot available in town.  We sure don’t want it to look like it does up in Michigan,” he said.

 

Brath urged the city to see if something can be done to keep dispensaries out of the city in the event recreational marijuana is made legal in the state.

 

A push to legalize medical marijuana is expected when the state legislature meets again in January.  Some people believe legalizing marijuana for medical purposes will open the door, eventually,  to legalizing pot for recreational purposes.

 

Recreational marijuana is legal in Michigan but municipalities in the state have the option of prohibiting dispensaries from opening up in their communities.