OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio — Roughly a year after Olmsted Falls City Council established a marijuana moratorium, City Council is expected to extend the resolution.
“In November 2023, Ohio voters passed Issue 2,” Olmsted Falls Mayor James Graven said. “This is still a developing industry in Ohio.
“As of June, there were 55 active moratoriums that have been enacted by cities in our state. Our intent is to actively study current law and offer recommendations for our city once the final state rules are adopted.”
An initial nine-month moratorium on the issuance and processing of any permits for retail dispensaries, cultivators or processors of adult-use marijuana was followed last June with an extension through the end of the year.
The proposed moratorium runs through the end of 2025.
“We’re continuing to study the issue and its impact,” he said.
“This extra year will give us time to do that.”
There’s no doubt municipalities with marijuana moratoriums like Olmsted Falls have to weigh whether the legal operation mirrors community values while also taking into consideration the potential of additional revenue streams.
During one week in October, it was reported Ohio adults aged 21 and older purchased $11.1 million in recreational marijuana.
Dispensaries sold 1.4 million transactions totaling $109.5 million since the beginning of recreational sales on Aug. 6 through the middle of October, according to Ohio Department of Cannabis Control figures.
For comparison, there have been roughly $1.99 billion in medical marijuana sales since Ohio’s January 2019 legalization of the once-controversial product .
“There are pros and cons to this issue, but we haven’t been contacted by any dispensaries or any companies,” he said.
“Also, we are not on I-71 or I-480. Usually, they put these places in areas where we have a lot of fast-food and high-traffic areas, which our city doesn’t have.”
The mayor said at the end of next year the marijuana dispensary decision could potentially be made by City Council or at the ballot for the community to decide.
“That’s why we’re taking our time,” he said.
“We want to listen to the community.”
Read more news from the Sun Post Herald here.
Roughly a year after Olmsted Falls City Council established a marijuana moratorium, City Council is expected to extend the resolution. Read More
