From none to 21, Niles Charter Township approves several pot shop applications

BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. -- The Niles Charter Township Board approved 21 applications for new pot shops in their meeting Monday night.

All of them are expected to pop up on what's being dubbed as "The Green Mile", the roughly one and a half mile stretch of S. 11th St. Between State Line Rd. And Fulkerson Rd.

The board went down the list and approved all the 21 applications they've received since passing the marijuana ordinance in April.

However, that was much to the dismay of several members of the public who showed up to the meeting to voice their opposition to the dozens of pot shops.

"I can't believe this township is going to let more drugs, get the word into your mind, drug," said one person.

"It's your grandchildren, great-grandchildren who are going to have to live with is," said another member of the public.

"We're nothing but a Niles Township dope place," said another, sharing their concerns.

Currently there are no dispensaries on that 1.5-mile stretch, but many of the addresses the dispensaries are pining for belong to existing businesses who are planning to sell to make room for a dispensary, like Jay's Lounge and Michiana Rental.

Now that the board has approved the applications, the marijuana businesses will receive a letter of acceptance.

All of the board members approved the applications except one, who did not agree with the high volume of potential dispensaries.

"Certainly, going with 22 or 25 or 50 stores, it's a matter of greed for the township, and I think it's totally out of place," said Herschel Hoese, Trustee of the Niles Charter Township Board.

The board also passed a temporary moratorium for accepting new marijuana establishment applications due to the large number they've already received.

They will accept applications through this Friday, June 20th at 4:30p, after that, they will not accept any until January 2nd of 2026.