Nobody wants to be accused of bogarting the decision-making process when it comes to prohibiting or allowing marijuana businesses, so Oxford’s village council and planning commission decided to hash things out during a joint session.

The two boards will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16. It will take place in the community room at 22 W. Burdick St.

“I want to see where the discussion goes,” said village President Joe Frost.

Planning commissioners requested the meeting because they’re seeking direction on the topic. They want to know exactly what council expects from them before they invest any time and money addressing it.

Council previously voted to send the issue to the commission for review and recommendations.

“Our initial thoughts were we need more information . . . There’s still a lot of unknowns,” Frost said.

Michigan law defines six types of marijuana establishments, all of which require a license from the state. They are grower, safety compliance facility, processor, microbusiness, retailer and secure transporters. The law allows municipalities to ban  or place restrictions on any or all of them.

Potential options for the village include enacting an ordinance that prohibits all marijuana establishments, placing a moratorium on them, allowing certain types of establishments, but not all of them or limiting the number of businesses as well as where in the village they could operate.

Frost said “the first question” that needs to be answered is “does it even make sense for our village” to allow them?

Given that some of the rules contained in the state law dictate where marijuana establishments cannot operate, he said “there are areas within the village that don’t work.”

According to the law, marijuana establishments cannot be located in areas that are zoned exclusively for residential use nor can they operate within 1,000 feet of a preexisting public or private K-12 school unless a municipality adopts an ordinance reducing this distance requirement.

State law also allows municipalities to “regulate the time, place and manner of operation” of marijuana establishments and “establish reasonable restrictions on (their) public signs.”

Beyond Michigan law, Frost is concerned about the potential impact of allowing businesses that produce and/or sell a product that’s still illegal under federal law.

“How do we balance the state law with the federal law? What does all that mean for our little village?” he said.

Based on discussions at previous meetings, Frost said “it seems that council is perhaps leaning towards allowing” marijuana businesses, “but obviously, that’s not been decided.”

Speaking for himself, Frost said he’s “on the fence.”

“I have not made a decision one way or the other,” he said. “I have no idea which way I’m going to land on this.”

Frost is “excited” about this joint meeting because he’s anxious to work with some of the new planning commissioners.

“We’ve got some really good people, really intelligent, really energetic,” he said.