Blackman School
By Gari Voss
Trowbridge Township announced that the Allegan County Sheriff’s Department shut down illegal marijuana grow operations at the old Blackman School and in a pole barn behind it. Trowbridge established a marijuana ordinance, but there are restrictions, and the Township trustees acted to bring the operations into compliance.
Interesting enough, there were four operations in the buildings around the Carter Lumber and the Old Blackman School. One of the operations was growing medical marijuana, and another was legal. But permits for growing operations are required, and two operations never applied for a license. The Township issued citations, but the growers still did not comply with the law, so the Township went to the courts.
Once the Township obtained a court order stating that the locations were in violation of state law and the Township Ordinance, the sheriff department was contacted. On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, deputies and detectives with the Allegan County Sheriff’s Department raided the unlicensed marijuana grow operations in Blackman School and the pole barn behind it.
“We are pleased with the cooperative effort by all involved,” stated Supervisor Jeff Kaylor. “Our township is now rid of an unlicensed/illegal operations, making our township safer.”
Zoning Administrator Larry Ladenburger explained that the Trowbridge leadership knew there were four grow operations in the township, and two had requested permits over the last couple of years. Of those two, he is aware that one is planning on closing its operation this year.
“The marijuana grow operations are like the gas station story,” mused Ladenburger. “When stations began popping up on every corner, not all of them could survive. With the marijuana product, a year ago it was worth close to $120 an ounce. Today, it is about $40 an ounce.”
Ladenburger surmised that there is more product than there is demand, so growers are struggling. They don’t have a good source for processing, so business is tough. Considering that there are several retail stores in Allegan, marijuana products are readily available just about everywhere. Plus, there is a provisioning center in the Allegan Industrial Park.
Sheriff Frank Baker would like to remind everyone that while the use of marijuana is legal, there are still laws and ordinances associated with the growing and selling of marijuana that need to be followed.
