Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Lakewood, Ohio - City Council at its July 18 meeting may vote to approve a six-month moratorium on the cultivation and sale of medical marijuana in the city.
City Law Director Kevin Butler said he is proposing the moratorium out of an abundance of caution, acknowledging it is unlikely marijuana sales in Ohio would begin anytime soon.
The moratorium would allow City Council, the mayor and the planning commission time to study the state's recently approved medical marijuana law and decide if the city wants to put in place additional restrictions on the locations and numbers of medical marijuana dispensaries.
The moratorium is necessary because Gov. John Kasich recently signed into law a bill that permits patients in Ohio beginning Sept. 8 to use physician-recommended medical marijuana, Butler said. The law regulates the cultivation, processing and sale of medical marijuana. Among other things, it prohibits those operations within 500 feet of a school, church, library, playground or park.
The state law also allows municipalities to establish their own regulations to prohibit or limit the number of marijuana operations.
"In fact, we know some municipalities have already, in anticipation of the state acting on medical marijuana, adopted zoning legislation that has zoned the sale of medical marijuana entirely out of existence in those municipalities," Butler told City Council Tuesday. "That is a possibility in this particular city, of course. That is up to our policy makers - you and the mayor and planning commission. We are fortunate to have some say."
The city needs time to study the law and decide if it wants to impose additional restrictions before medical marijuana operations open, Butler said. Council plans a recess for August, prompting Butler to ask for approval July 18.
While Ohio's medical marijuana law goes into effect Sept. 8, doctors need time to become qualified to make recommendations about their patients' use of medical marijuana, Butler said. In addition, the commerce department has until May 6, 2017, to issue rules and regulations for cultivators. That means it is unlikely sales could begin before sometime next year.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Lakewood Considers Local Moratorium On Medical Marijuana Sales
Author: Bruce Geiselman
Contact: 216-999-3900
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Cleveland Ohio Local News
City Law Director Kevin Butler said he is proposing the moratorium out of an abundance of caution, acknowledging it is unlikely marijuana sales in Ohio would begin anytime soon.
The moratorium would allow City Council, the mayor and the planning commission time to study the state's recently approved medical marijuana law and decide if the city wants to put in place additional restrictions on the locations and numbers of medical marijuana dispensaries.
The moratorium is necessary because Gov. John Kasich recently signed into law a bill that permits patients in Ohio beginning Sept. 8 to use physician-recommended medical marijuana, Butler said. The law regulates the cultivation, processing and sale of medical marijuana. Among other things, it prohibits those operations within 500 feet of a school, church, library, playground or park.
The state law also allows municipalities to establish their own regulations to prohibit or limit the number of marijuana operations.
"In fact, we know some municipalities have already, in anticipation of the state acting on medical marijuana, adopted zoning legislation that has zoned the sale of medical marijuana entirely out of existence in those municipalities," Butler told City Council Tuesday. "That is a possibility in this particular city, of course. That is up to our policy makers - you and the mayor and planning commission. We are fortunate to have some say."
The city needs time to study the law and decide if it wants to impose additional restrictions before medical marijuana operations open, Butler said. Council plans a recess for August, prompting Butler to ask for approval July 18.
While Ohio's medical marijuana law goes into effect Sept. 8, doctors need time to become qualified to make recommendations about their patients' use of medical marijuana, Butler said. In addition, the commerce department has until May 6, 2017, to issue rules and regulations for cultivators. That means it is unlikely sales could begin before sometime next year.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Lakewood Considers Local Moratorium On Medical Marijuana Sales
Author: Bruce Geiselman
Contact: 216-999-3900
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Cleveland Ohio Local News
