OH: Streetsboro Opens Door To Medical Marijuana

Ron Strider

Well-Known Member
A day after finalizing a moratorium on medical marijuana-related businesses in Streetsboro, the city's Planning Commission started the process of opening the door to such enterprises in the city.

The commission has forwarded to council changes to the city's zoning code that would permit medical marijuana dispensaries, processing plants and laboratories. City Council is expected to discuss the potential code changes some time in November.

Planning and Zoning Director John Cieszkowski and Assistant Law Director John Chapman outlined the proposed code changes. Dispensaries would be permitted only in the business district, with no more than two such businesses located in the city. If there are two dispensaries in the city, they must be at least 2,000 feet away from one another. The businesses also must operate out of a stand-alone facility, and not in a "multi tenant" building such as a shopping center.

Cultivation is still off limits in Streetsboro. The state expects to release the list of the 24 approved cultivators next month. Potential cultivators in Rootstown, Ravenna Township and Nelson were reportedly among the applicants.

Chapman pointed out that such businesses still would be governed by the rules set by the state.

"I don't think any multi-tenant facility would meet the requirements set by the state," he said.

Processing facilities and testing laboratories could operate out of the Industrial Research and Office District. Right now, state law requires such laboratories to operate out of universities, but Cieszkowski pointed out that if universities run into problems with federal funding for operating such labs, the testing may need to be done in the private sector.

Streetsboro City Council recently approved a moratorium on medical marijuana-related businesses, which was just extended earlier in October. However, officials said, council can lift the moratorium at any time.

Streetsboro has not received any requests for dispensaries. Ohio's Board of Pharmacy expects to license 60 dispensaries state-wide, with only two such businesses in Portage, Lake and Geauga counties. A potential dispenser has reportedly made inquiries with officials in Ravenna.

However, Cieszkowski said the state may eventually issue more permits in Ohio as demand increases.

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Full Article: Streetsboro opens door to medical marijuana - News - Record-Courier - Kent, OH
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