Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
Businesses will have to pay an extra fee be in the medical marijuana business within Newark.
Monday night Newark City Council approved requiring any medical marijuana cultivator, processor or dispensary within the city of Newark to have a license from the city and pay a $500 fee each January.
"This really does set a framework for the rest of the state and for other municipalities in which they can have an effective way to deal with medical marijuana in its infancy and provide local safety forces as well as state regulators with a cooperative arrangement where we're both looking out for the interests of patients and enabling a new industry to succeed in our city," said Councilman Mark Fraizer, R-at large, who brought the legislation to council.
All medical marijuana businesses are also required to submit to the city copies of all the documents from the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program application, such as business plans, security plans and contact information.
Another section of the law would also give the safety director the ability to do random and unannounced searches and inspections of the facilities.
The implied consent clause is also in place for skill game businesses in the city Newark.
But the provision is what led Jeremy Blake, D-2nd Ward, to vote against the law. Blake along with fellow Democrat Michael Mangus, 4th Ward, cast the only two votes against the legislation.
"I think it's a legitimate business in the state of Ohio and I think they need probable cause in order to do a search," Blake said
Mangus said while the city will have the right to inspect medical marijuana businesses, but it will have no control over the inspections.
"If we find something wrong, all we can do is go running to the state and say 'hey, there's something wrong,'" Mangus said.
Medical marijuana was approved by the state in September 2016. The rules for the program are still being written by people across several state agencies and are not expected to be implemented until September 2018. But the application windows for medical marijuana cultivators and dispensaries have already closed. Applications for processors will be accepted from Dec. 4 through Dec. 15.
The Ohio Board of Pharmacy received 370 dispensary applications. From these, the board is authorized to award up to 57 licenses. They will be selected regionally, and only three dispensaries are allowed between Delaware, Knox, Licking and Morrow counties.
Five entities applied for dispensaries in Licking County, and another organization applied for one in Delaware County. The state did not receive any applications for Knox or Morrow counties.
Even though council has approved licensing fees, but perspective medical marijuana business owners still do not know where they can set up in Newark. Zoning restrictions were presented to the Newark's Planning Commission Nov. 14.
The state has already prohibited dispensaries from being located within 500 feet of a school, church, public library, public playground or public park. If Newark's zoning rules were approved, the city's zoning code would tack on an additional 500 feet and include addiction services providers.
Based on the 1,000 feet restriction, dispensaries would be allowed on North 21st Street between Deo and Catalina drives, West Main Street near Cherry Valley and Tamarack roads, Mount Vernon Road near Plaza Pizza and parts of East Main Street.
Dispensaries would be allowed in medium intensity business districts and cultivators and processors could open in limited industrial districts.
The planning commission can amend the legislation, which was also proposed by Fraizer proposed, or recommend it be approved as it is. The commission is to announce a recommendation at its next meeting, Dec. 12.
From there, the recommendation heads back to city council. It is expected to be on the Jan. 2 meeting agenda. Another public hearing will take place during that meeting and then the council will vote.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical marijuana businesses to see fees after Newark council approval
Author: Maria DeVito
Contact: Contact Us | newarkadvocate.com
Photo Credit: Brett Levin
Website: The Newark Advocate
Monday night Newark City Council approved requiring any medical marijuana cultivator, processor or dispensary within the city of Newark to have a license from the city and pay a $500 fee each January.
"This really does set a framework for the rest of the state and for other municipalities in which they can have an effective way to deal with medical marijuana in its infancy and provide local safety forces as well as state regulators with a cooperative arrangement where we're both looking out for the interests of patients and enabling a new industry to succeed in our city," said Councilman Mark Fraizer, R-at large, who brought the legislation to council.
All medical marijuana businesses are also required to submit to the city copies of all the documents from the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program application, such as business plans, security plans and contact information.
Another section of the law would also give the safety director the ability to do random and unannounced searches and inspections of the facilities.
The implied consent clause is also in place for skill game businesses in the city Newark.
But the provision is what led Jeremy Blake, D-2nd Ward, to vote against the law. Blake along with fellow Democrat Michael Mangus, 4th Ward, cast the only two votes against the legislation.
"I think it's a legitimate business in the state of Ohio and I think they need probable cause in order to do a search," Blake said
Mangus said while the city will have the right to inspect medical marijuana businesses, but it will have no control over the inspections.
"If we find something wrong, all we can do is go running to the state and say 'hey, there's something wrong,'" Mangus said.
Medical marijuana was approved by the state in September 2016. The rules for the program are still being written by people across several state agencies and are not expected to be implemented until September 2018. But the application windows for medical marijuana cultivators and dispensaries have already closed. Applications for processors will be accepted from Dec. 4 through Dec. 15.
The Ohio Board of Pharmacy received 370 dispensary applications. From these, the board is authorized to award up to 57 licenses. They will be selected regionally, and only three dispensaries are allowed between Delaware, Knox, Licking and Morrow counties.
Five entities applied for dispensaries in Licking County, and another organization applied for one in Delaware County. The state did not receive any applications for Knox or Morrow counties.
Even though council has approved licensing fees, but perspective medical marijuana business owners still do not know where they can set up in Newark. Zoning restrictions were presented to the Newark's Planning Commission Nov. 14.
The state has already prohibited dispensaries from being located within 500 feet of a school, church, public library, public playground or public park. If Newark's zoning rules were approved, the city's zoning code would tack on an additional 500 feet and include addiction services providers.
Based on the 1,000 feet restriction, dispensaries would be allowed on North 21st Street between Deo and Catalina drives, West Main Street near Cherry Valley and Tamarack roads, Mount Vernon Road near Plaza Pizza and parts of East Main Street.
Dispensaries would be allowed in medium intensity business districts and cultivators and processors could open in limited industrial districts.
The planning commission can amend the legislation, which was also proposed by Fraizer proposed, or recommend it be approved as it is. The commission is to announce a recommendation at its next meeting, Dec. 12.
From there, the recommendation heads back to city council. It is expected to be on the Jan. 2 meeting agenda. Another public hearing will take place during that meeting and then the council will vote.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical marijuana businesses to see fees after Newark council approval
Author: Maria DeVito
Contact: Contact Us | newarkadvocate.com
Photo Credit: Brett Levin
Website: The Newark Advocate
