Public safety director Marijuana shops not contributing to local crime problem

COLDWATER — With 10 operating recreational marijuana sales locations in Coldwater, Public Safety Director Joe Scheid said, “The marijuana facilities, in general, have not caused us a lot of problems in our community.” Scheid was responding to questions from a packed Branch County Association of Realtors monthly community coffee at Hope Café Tuesday morning. Scheid said the serious drug issue is methamphetamine and some opioids. In an analysis by the Daily Reporter of the 369 felony criminal cases processed in the Branch County Circuit Court in 2022, 62% of them were meth related. Even in the cases where possession of…