Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
With Port Clinton's temporary six-month ban on medical marijuana-related businesses expiring this month, some city council members are considering the idea of allowing them after studying the state law for weeks.
On Tuesday, Port Clinton's laws, rules and ordinances committee met and discussed the possible future of medical marijuana businesses in the city along with a few area residents.
Beth Gillman, councilwoman for Port Clinton's first ward and a member of the committee, said the meeting was not about debating the merits of marijuana's medical use but rather how city officials should approach the business issue going forward.
In December, Port Clinton City Council unanimously passed a six-month moratorium on the cultivation, processing, distribution or retail sale of medical marijuana within city limits.
According to the ordinance, the period of the moratorium would last just six months from the time it was passed, meaning it expired on June 13.
However, Gillman said to date no one has yet applied with the Port Clinton chief zoning inspector, whom the state law requires anyone seeking a license to open a medical marijuana-related business first get the approval of in the respective jurisdiction.
The rules for the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program limit the number of medical marijuana cultivators to a total of 24, split into two different levels of 12 each based on size.
Ohio law delegates the medical marijuana licensing authority to the Department of Commerce.
"My assumption is, the people who were going to get these first 24 licenses, which are annually renewable, that they already have their ducks in a row," she said. "So that's what we're looking at, if somebody gets approved by the state, does the city want to allow them to apply to cultivate in city limits?"
Margaret Phillips, councilwoman and chair of the committee, said Port Clinton's planning commission reviewed the issue as well and voted unanimously in favor of allowing it. The planning commission then asked the laws, rules and ordinances committee to consider it, too.
"I think the state standards are strict enough that if we allow, I don't think we'll be jeopardizing the safety or welfare of anybody," Phillips said. "I think it's an economic tool and we're not in a position to turn an economic tool away."
As for medical marijuana dispensaries, the program's initial rules are limiting those licenses to 60 in the state.
Jerry Tarolli, second ward councilman and fellow committee member, said he is awaiting the rules still being written by the Ohio Board of Pharmacy regarding dispensaries, but believes that would be more of a fit for Port Clinton than a cultivation facility.
If Port Clinton were to allow a marijuana dispensary business, it may have to require some area of the city be re-zoned as the state restrictions prohibit it from being within 500 feet of any churches, schools, libraries, playgrounds and parks and other similar public areas.
"When we look at (Port Clinton's zoning map), there's next to no place to put a dispensary," Phillips said.
Phillips also noted that a church could potentially open within 500 feet of an already established dispensary after the fact, then submit a complaint to the Department of Commerce and, if the church is recognized, have the dispensary closed down.
Gary Nipper, a resident of Port Clinton, expressed his support of allowing medical marijuana businesses in the city.
If Port Clinton were not to allow it, Nipper said, it would be a slap in the face to those who need marijuana as a medicine. He said for a lot of those people who need it, having to travel long distances to do so would be an excessive hassle.
"The state is very strict on the rules. There are approved medical conditions – AIDS, Alzheimer's, cancer – these are not high crime committing people," Gillman said. "Law enforcement I've spoken to seem to think it will cut crime."
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Committee views medical marijuana as potential 'economic tool'
Author: Jon Stinchcomb
Contact: Port Clinton News-Herald
Photo Credit: MARK RALSTON
Website: Port Clinton News-Herald
On Tuesday, Port Clinton's laws, rules and ordinances committee met and discussed the possible future of medical marijuana businesses in the city along with a few area residents.
Beth Gillman, councilwoman for Port Clinton's first ward and a member of the committee, said the meeting was not about debating the merits of marijuana's medical use but rather how city officials should approach the business issue going forward.
In December, Port Clinton City Council unanimously passed a six-month moratorium on the cultivation, processing, distribution or retail sale of medical marijuana within city limits.
According to the ordinance, the period of the moratorium would last just six months from the time it was passed, meaning it expired on June 13.
However, Gillman said to date no one has yet applied with the Port Clinton chief zoning inspector, whom the state law requires anyone seeking a license to open a medical marijuana-related business first get the approval of in the respective jurisdiction.
The rules for the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program limit the number of medical marijuana cultivators to a total of 24, split into two different levels of 12 each based on size.
Ohio law delegates the medical marijuana licensing authority to the Department of Commerce.
"My assumption is, the people who were going to get these first 24 licenses, which are annually renewable, that they already have their ducks in a row," she said. "So that's what we're looking at, if somebody gets approved by the state, does the city want to allow them to apply to cultivate in city limits?"
Margaret Phillips, councilwoman and chair of the committee, said Port Clinton's planning commission reviewed the issue as well and voted unanimously in favor of allowing it. The planning commission then asked the laws, rules and ordinances committee to consider it, too.
"I think the state standards are strict enough that if we allow, I don't think we'll be jeopardizing the safety or welfare of anybody," Phillips said. "I think it's an economic tool and we're not in a position to turn an economic tool away."
As for medical marijuana dispensaries, the program's initial rules are limiting those licenses to 60 in the state.
Jerry Tarolli, second ward councilman and fellow committee member, said he is awaiting the rules still being written by the Ohio Board of Pharmacy regarding dispensaries, but believes that would be more of a fit for Port Clinton than a cultivation facility.
If Port Clinton were to allow a marijuana dispensary business, it may have to require some area of the city be re-zoned as the state restrictions prohibit it from being within 500 feet of any churches, schools, libraries, playgrounds and parks and other similar public areas.
"When we look at (Port Clinton's zoning map), there's next to no place to put a dispensary," Phillips said.
Phillips also noted that a church could potentially open within 500 feet of an already established dispensary after the fact, then submit a complaint to the Department of Commerce and, if the church is recognized, have the dispensary closed down.
Gary Nipper, a resident of Port Clinton, expressed his support of allowing medical marijuana businesses in the city.
If Port Clinton were not to allow it, Nipper said, it would be a slap in the face to those who need marijuana as a medicine. He said for a lot of those people who need it, having to travel long distances to do so would be an excessive hassle.
"The state is very strict on the rules. There are approved medical conditions – AIDS, Alzheimer's, cancer – these are not high crime committing people," Gillman said. "Law enforcement I've spoken to seem to think it will cut crime."
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Committee views medical marijuana as potential 'economic tool'
Author: Jon Stinchcomb
Contact: Port Clinton News-Herald
Photo Credit: MARK RALSTON
Website: Port Clinton News-Herald
