Kettering city staff members have prepared a detailed presentation that will recommend council make permanent its temporary ban on medical marijuana businesses.
The staff will present its findings at 7:30 p.m. today in the Kettering City Council Chambers, 3600 Shroyer Rd., during the council’s regular meeting.
“Kettering residents interested in learning more about the issue are encouraged to join us for the presentation,” said Kettering Assistant City Manager Steven Bergstresser.
Kettering Mayor Don Patterson said that residents can access the city’s research on the issue on the city’s website and come to the council meeting to see all of the data presented. There will be a public comment portion of the meeting.
“This is an important issue, and the decision we make now has the potential to impact our community well in to the future,” Patterson told this news organization.
A March 23 memo from city staff to council recommends enacting a ban on the businesses in the city. The primary reason given is that Ohio’s medical marijuana program is in conflict with federal law, which considers marijuana a Schedule 1 drug.
“Possession and use of medical marijuana in compliance with state law would be allowed, and those individuals who desire to possess and use medical marijuana would be able to acquire it from nearby dispensaries in neighboring jurisdictions (e.g. Beavercreek and Dayton),” the memo says.
Most area cities have either temporary or permanent bans on medical marijuana, the memo says. Dayton, Beavercreek and Riverside are among those who permit it. Other cities that have passed bans include Oakwood, Huber Heights and Springboro.
Thomas Rosenberger, director of the National Cannabis Industry Association of Ohio, said cities are within their rights to pass such a ban, “but I think they are a little misguided in doing so.”
He said areas around dispensaries often see a decrease in crime. These are medical offices that treat sick residents and support the community, he said.
