Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
The Newark City Council this past week tabled a proposal from the city administration to ban medical marijuana dispensaries in the city limits.
Because so much remains unknown about Ohio's medical marijuana program, this decision was correct. Why rush into a decision that is not pressing when all the facts are not yet available?
Medical marijuana was approved by the state last September. The rules for the program are still being written by people across several state agencies and are not expected to be complete until this fall and implemented until September 2018.
Here are some things we still don't know about the program:
-How businesses can become a licensed dispensary
-How much it costs to be a licensed dispensary
-How many dispensaries will be allowed
-How doctors will be allowed to recommend marijuana to patients
Dispensaries of the soon-to-be-legal prescription marijuana would not be allowed within 500 feet of schools, churches, public libraries, public playgrounds or public parks, according to the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program website.
The legislation to ban dispensaries in Newark was brought to council by the city administration. Newark Safety Director Steve Baum said he had safety concerns because dispensaries are cash only businesses. Marijuana is still illegal at the federal level, which causes many banks to be hesitant in dealing with dispensaries.
Cash-only businesses have a notorious reputation as fronts for illegal activity, but with medical marijuana becoming a legitimate business in many states, it is up to the federal government to make it easier for them to do business. Councilman Jeremy Blake argued that Newark should be encouraging businesses to come to Newark while being sensitive to where they can locate. Councilman Curtis Johnson rightly said the city needs to know what the state will require of dispensaries before banning them.
The ability for communities to chart their own futures is a staple of home-town rule in Ohio, so it is appropriate that cities be able to determine if they want medical marijuana businesses. In Licking County Johnstown passed a resolution in August to welcome medical marijuana businesses to the village. In Pataskala, the City Council delayed a vote until May 15 to essentially ban all medical marijuana businesses.
For an industry that is still months away from being defined and more than a year away from actually starting, we think it is premature to make permanent decisions banning businesses that were approved by the state legislature. It should be noted that keeping medical marijuana dispensaries out of Newark will not keep medical marijuana out of Newark.
Newark officials should also be wary of appearing to crack down on legal marijuana use less than a year after its residents approved a referendum last fall decriminalizing the drug in the city's laws.
Deciding whether to allow the businesses, and where to allow them, is a discussion worth having. It was good that the proposed ban called for at least two public hearings before it could become law.
Discussing a ban on medical marijuana with constituents makes a lot of sense. It just makes more sense to do so when we fully know what we are talking about
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Our view: Newark right to wait on medical marijuana
Contact: Contact Us | newarkadvocate.com
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Website: The Newark Advocate
Because so much remains unknown about Ohio's medical marijuana program, this decision was correct. Why rush into a decision that is not pressing when all the facts are not yet available?
Medical marijuana was approved by the state last September. The rules for the program are still being written by people across several state agencies and are not expected to be complete until this fall and implemented until September 2018.
Here are some things we still don't know about the program:
-How businesses can become a licensed dispensary
-How much it costs to be a licensed dispensary
-How many dispensaries will be allowed
-How doctors will be allowed to recommend marijuana to patients
Dispensaries of the soon-to-be-legal prescription marijuana would not be allowed within 500 feet of schools, churches, public libraries, public playgrounds or public parks, according to the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program website.
The legislation to ban dispensaries in Newark was brought to council by the city administration. Newark Safety Director Steve Baum said he had safety concerns because dispensaries are cash only businesses. Marijuana is still illegal at the federal level, which causes many banks to be hesitant in dealing with dispensaries.
Cash-only businesses have a notorious reputation as fronts for illegal activity, but with medical marijuana becoming a legitimate business in many states, it is up to the federal government to make it easier for them to do business. Councilman Jeremy Blake argued that Newark should be encouraging businesses to come to Newark while being sensitive to where they can locate. Councilman Curtis Johnson rightly said the city needs to know what the state will require of dispensaries before banning them.
The ability for communities to chart their own futures is a staple of home-town rule in Ohio, so it is appropriate that cities be able to determine if they want medical marijuana businesses. In Licking County Johnstown passed a resolution in August to welcome medical marijuana businesses to the village. In Pataskala, the City Council delayed a vote until May 15 to essentially ban all medical marijuana businesses.
For an industry that is still months away from being defined and more than a year away from actually starting, we think it is premature to make permanent decisions banning businesses that were approved by the state legislature. It should be noted that keeping medical marijuana dispensaries out of Newark will not keep medical marijuana out of Newark.
Newark officials should also be wary of appearing to crack down on legal marijuana use less than a year after its residents approved a referendum last fall decriminalizing the drug in the city's laws.
Deciding whether to allow the businesses, and where to allow them, is a discussion worth having. It was good that the proposed ban called for at least two public hearings before it could become law.
Discussing a ban on medical marijuana with constituents makes a lot of sense. It just makes more sense to do so when we fully know what we are talking about
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Our view: Newark right to wait on medical marijuana
Contact: Contact Us | newarkadvocate.com
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Website: The Newark Advocate
