Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
The moratorium against medical marijuana businesses opening in Springfield has been extended through late September.
Springfield City Commissioners on Wednesday unanimously passed the extension until Sept. 27.
The item initially was not on the agenda for the Wednesday meeting, but city staff prepared an ordinance extending the moratorium in case the discussion continued, Law Director Jerry Strozdas said.
Commissioners in August 2016 placed a six-month moratorium on new medical marijuana-related businesses. That came after Gov. John Kasich signed a bill last year making cannabis legal in Ohio for medical use.
The city extended the temporary ban in February to allow staff members to research whether they would have to change any local zoning or other laws because of the state's new regulations. The extended moratorium was expected to end Wednesday.
The state is expected to release final rules Sept. 8 for dispensing and processing businesses, which would give staff time to confirm the rules before the last meeting in September.
The moratorium can be rescinded at any time, according to the ordinance, Strozdas said.
"You can revoke it at any time you have a public meeting," he said.
If we found the application date for licensing and processing is set before the end of the moratorium, commission will reconsider it at that time, Mayor Warren Copeland said.
"It seems to be that if this can be helpful in some serious medical situations then I'll personally vote to allow it in Springfield," Copeland said.
The question is not its medical uses, but its land use plans, Commissioner Dan Martin said. It's possible the rules could change while they're being finalized, he said.
"It makes sense that we know what the state is going to permit and not permit at those locations," Martin said.
If it's not allowed in the city of Springfield, prospective businesses will just move to the township, Commissioner Karen Duncan said. There's also very little land available for cultivation, she said.
"Why not keep the revenues and businesses inside the city limits but with some regulations?" Duncan said.
The city's existing zoning codes are appropriate to handle medical marijuana cultivation, dispensing and processing if city commissioners want to allow it, staff told commissioners earlier this year.
The state required cultivating licenses be submitted by June 30. If a moratorium is in place locally at the time of the application, it then becomes void, said Springfield resident Renea Turner, who hopes to open several medical marijuana businesses locally.
"(If that happened) they just wasted $20,000," Turner said. "It will be the same for all of the others as well."
Ohio is the 25th state to legalize medical marijuana, even though it's still illegal under federal laws. The state's law doesn't allow marijuana to be smoked or grown at home. It will have to be used in patches, vapors, edibles or other forms.
The state program would issue building permits, certificates of occupancy or change of use permits for cultivators, processors or retail sellers of medical marijuana.
The community already has an issue with opioids and alcohol, Springfield resident Bruce Williams said.
"When are we going to learn to say 'No' and mean it," Williams said.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Springfield extends medical marijuana moratorium until September
Author: Michael Cooper
Contact: Member Center
Photo Credit: WSAZ News
Website: Springfield News-Sun | News for Springfield & Clark County
Springfield City Commissioners on Wednesday unanimously passed the extension until Sept. 27.
The item initially was not on the agenda for the Wednesday meeting, but city staff prepared an ordinance extending the moratorium in case the discussion continued, Law Director Jerry Strozdas said.
Commissioners in August 2016 placed a six-month moratorium on new medical marijuana-related businesses. That came after Gov. John Kasich signed a bill last year making cannabis legal in Ohio for medical use.
The city extended the temporary ban in February to allow staff members to research whether they would have to change any local zoning or other laws because of the state's new regulations. The extended moratorium was expected to end Wednesday.
The state is expected to release final rules Sept. 8 for dispensing and processing businesses, which would give staff time to confirm the rules before the last meeting in September.
The moratorium can be rescinded at any time, according to the ordinance, Strozdas said.
"You can revoke it at any time you have a public meeting," he said.
If we found the application date for licensing and processing is set before the end of the moratorium, commission will reconsider it at that time, Mayor Warren Copeland said.
"It seems to be that if this can be helpful in some serious medical situations then I'll personally vote to allow it in Springfield," Copeland said.
The question is not its medical uses, but its land use plans, Commissioner Dan Martin said. It's possible the rules could change while they're being finalized, he said.
"It makes sense that we know what the state is going to permit and not permit at those locations," Martin said.
If it's not allowed in the city of Springfield, prospective businesses will just move to the township, Commissioner Karen Duncan said. There's also very little land available for cultivation, she said.
"Why not keep the revenues and businesses inside the city limits but with some regulations?" Duncan said.
The city's existing zoning codes are appropriate to handle medical marijuana cultivation, dispensing and processing if city commissioners want to allow it, staff told commissioners earlier this year.
The state required cultivating licenses be submitted by June 30. If a moratorium is in place locally at the time of the application, it then becomes void, said Springfield resident Renea Turner, who hopes to open several medical marijuana businesses locally.
"(If that happened) they just wasted $20,000," Turner said. "It will be the same for all of the others as well."
Ohio is the 25th state to legalize medical marijuana, even though it's still illegal under federal laws. The state's law doesn't allow marijuana to be smoked or grown at home. It will have to be used in patches, vapors, edibles or other forms.
The state program would issue building permits, certificates of occupancy or change of use permits for cultivators, processors or retail sellers of medical marijuana.
The community already has an issue with opioids and alcohol, Springfield resident Bruce Williams said.
"When are we going to learn to say 'No' and mean it," Williams said.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Springfield extends medical marijuana moratorium until September
Author: Michael Cooper
Contact: Member Center
Photo Credit: WSAZ News
Website: Springfield News-Sun | News for Springfield & Clark County
