Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
The Planning and Zoning committee voted against the cultivation and dispensing of medical marijuana being permitted within the city. The vote at Wednesday's meeting was unanimous.
City Administrator Bridgette Kabat said the committee's vote has no bearing over the legal use of medical marijuana, which must be appropriately prescribed. However, the cultivating and dispensing of medical marijuana is prohibited within the city.
"Again, this does not preclude somebody, a citizen at some point in time who received the appropriate recommendation, to utilize it in the city's boundaries. This ordinance deals with the planning and zoning side of things and says that there's no zoning that is appropriate to cultivate, process, dispense and distribute within the city of Perrysburg," Kabat said.
The ordinance was visited by the planning commission twice and examined the Ohio Revised Code language for modification. Kabat said the ordinance would effectively extinguish the city's six-month moratorium.
In May, council approved a temporary six-month ban on medical marijuana sales, processing and distribution in the city. At the time, Councilman Tim McCarthy said the move was "just a moratorium for a six-month period to consider what we do want to do."
Kabat said that with the appropriate documentation, someone can go to a dispensary just as they would go to the Cleveland Clinic to obtain the proper medical attention they need.
On Wednesday, the concern of medical marijuana being a cash business was one of the biggest issues for the committee to come to terms with.
When asked by Councilman Jonathan Smith what the argument against permitting cultivation and retail was, Kabat cited concerns that city officials previously have voiced.
She said the police chief, city law director and city prosecutor all have voiced concerns over potential thefts, robberies and burglaries, and safety in general regarding such dispensary businesses.
Kabat also noted potential challenges that would arise in regard to enforcing the appropriateness of the usage.
"It's a whole other challenge when it comes to the actual usage of medical marijuana, and that's a challenge that all police departments are going to be facing when people get pulled over," she said. "It's a prescription and still a scheduled 3 drug for the feds ... there's a lot of things that need to be worked out. Most of the concern is that this is cash business."
Kabat also explained the role of a "bud-tender" to the board. She said that this person would be one who would receive the recommendation and in turn decide what medical marijuana product the patient would receive.
"They have the ability to determine what strain, meaning what type (or) what form this medical marijuana would be given to you. It's not like you go to your doctor and you get a prescription for this pill, this many milligrams, and that's exactly what you get," Kabat said. "It's not a solid chain like when you go to your doctor, you're getting a specific thing for a specific issue and then you get a specific product. This is much more kind of up in the air."
McCarthy said that the recommendations of the city prosecutor, as well as the concerns of the law director and police chief should be taken into consideration.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Perrysburg committee unanimously against cultivating, dispensing medical marijuana - Sentinel-Tribune: Front Page
Author: BRI'ON WHITESIDE
Contact: Contact Us - Sentinel-Tribune: Site
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Website: Sentinel-Tribune: Wood County's Source for Local News
City Administrator Bridgette Kabat said the committee's vote has no bearing over the legal use of medical marijuana, which must be appropriately prescribed. However, the cultivating and dispensing of medical marijuana is prohibited within the city.
"Again, this does not preclude somebody, a citizen at some point in time who received the appropriate recommendation, to utilize it in the city's boundaries. This ordinance deals with the planning and zoning side of things and says that there's no zoning that is appropriate to cultivate, process, dispense and distribute within the city of Perrysburg," Kabat said.
The ordinance was visited by the planning commission twice and examined the Ohio Revised Code language for modification. Kabat said the ordinance would effectively extinguish the city's six-month moratorium.
In May, council approved a temporary six-month ban on medical marijuana sales, processing and distribution in the city. At the time, Councilman Tim McCarthy said the move was "just a moratorium for a six-month period to consider what we do want to do."
Kabat said that with the appropriate documentation, someone can go to a dispensary just as they would go to the Cleveland Clinic to obtain the proper medical attention they need.
On Wednesday, the concern of medical marijuana being a cash business was one of the biggest issues for the committee to come to terms with.
When asked by Councilman Jonathan Smith what the argument against permitting cultivation and retail was, Kabat cited concerns that city officials previously have voiced.
She said the police chief, city law director and city prosecutor all have voiced concerns over potential thefts, robberies and burglaries, and safety in general regarding such dispensary businesses.
Kabat also noted potential challenges that would arise in regard to enforcing the appropriateness of the usage.
"It's a whole other challenge when it comes to the actual usage of medical marijuana, and that's a challenge that all police departments are going to be facing when people get pulled over," she said. "It's a prescription and still a scheduled 3 drug for the feds ... there's a lot of things that need to be worked out. Most of the concern is that this is cash business."
Kabat also explained the role of a "bud-tender" to the board. She said that this person would be one who would receive the recommendation and in turn decide what medical marijuana product the patient would receive.
"They have the ability to determine what strain, meaning what type (or) what form this medical marijuana would be given to you. It's not like you go to your doctor and you get a prescription for this pill, this many milligrams, and that's exactly what you get," Kabat said. "It's not a solid chain like when you go to your doctor, you're getting a specific thing for a specific issue and then you get a specific product. This is much more kind of up in the air."
McCarthy said that the recommendations of the city prosecutor, as well as the concerns of the law director and police chief should be taken into consideration.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Perrysburg committee unanimously against cultivating, dispensing medical marijuana - Sentinel-Tribune: Front Page
Author: BRI'ON WHITESIDE
Contact: Contact Us - Sentinel-Tribune: Site
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Website: Sentinel-Tribune: Wood County's Source for Local News