Niles Township to Accept Cannabis License Applications Starting May 2

21 April 2025

Zoning Ordinance Passed Amid Economic Hopes and Community Concerns

The Niles Charter Township Board in Michigan voted 5-1 to adopt a zoning ordinance that allows unlimited cannabis dispensaries to operate within township limits. This follows a successful public referendum in November 2024 and targets a specific corridor along South 11th Street, just north of the Indiana border, near existing dispensaries in the City of Niles.

• License applications open May 2, 2025
• $5,000 application fee per dispensary
• No cap on the number of cannabis retailers
• Permitted zone: South 11th Street between State Line Rd. and Fulkerson Rd.

Opportunities and Objections

While many in the cannabis business community view the move as a major economic opportunity — especially for boosting medical cannabis access and creating a regional cannabis tourism draw — residents and some officials raised key concerns:

• Market saturation could threaten business sustainability
• Long-term identity of the township is in question
• Mixed public reaction: economic benefits vs. generational impact

Despite the pushback, the ordinance puts Niles Charter Township on the map as one of the most open cannabis retail zones in southwest Michigan, with potential to attract both entrepreneurs and customers from neighboring communities and across the Indiana border.