BY TOM STEPHENS
Examiner Contributor
A petition of referendum calling to overturn the Bellefontaine City Council’s recent decision to ban the sales of adult-use, recreational marijuana in the city is now in circulation in the city.
The petition to overturn the council’s decision was put together almost immediately following its 4-1 vote to enact the ban at its regular meeting Tuesday, March 11. Six Bellefontaine residents — Chamika Collier, Mackenzie Myers Fitzpatrick, Sarah Lewis, Victoria Maddox, Tim Steinhelfer and Marc Triplett — formed a committee draw up the petition to overturn the council’s decision.
According to the Ohio Revised Code, the petitioners must gather signatures of 10 percent of the registered voters who voted in the last gubernatorial election, which was conducted in November 2023, to get the referendum on the ballot, meaning that signatures of 363 registered voters in the city are needed to put the issue on Bellefontaine ballots in the November 2025 election.
Time considerations, again as determined by the ORC, prohibit the issue from being placed on the ballot for the May election.
In a press release drawn up by the committee, Steinhelfer said, “This is about open and transparent government. City council passed this ban with no deliberation or debate. Voters are sick of politicians making decisions in the shadows and ignoring their constituents. It’s time to put power back where it belongs—with the people.”
Fitzpatrick, who represents the Fourth Ward on the Bellefontaine City Council and who cast the lone “no” vote on the measure said, “Knowing that the majority of our city, not to mention every individual ward, favored adult use cannabis sales in 2023, the ban is both uninformed and lacking clarity on the people’s votes.
“The ban is clearly an issue that needs to be brought to the voters.”
Supporters of the petition will be at the Logan County Courthouse square from noon to 4 p.m. today, Saturday, March 22, asking for signatures.
The complete press release from the committee is as follows:
Less than two years after Bellefontaine voters supported the legalization of adult-use cannabis, City Council has unilaterally decided to ban dispensaries—without discussion, without debate, and without giving residents a say. Now, a group of determined Bellefontaine citizens is fighting back, launching a referendum petition to let the voters—not politicians—decide the city’s future on this issue.
On March 11, Bellefontaine City Council voted to prohibit cannabis dispensaries within city limits, effectively rejecting the will of the 56 percent of local voters who supported State Issue 2 in 2023. Under that measure, municipalities hosting dispensaries would receive 36 percent of the 10 percent state excise tax on adult-use cannabis — a potential economic boost that council members dismissed 4-1 after hearing substantial public opposition to the proposed ban.
In response, six Bellefontaine residents have filed to put the ban up for a referendum, giving voters the final say on whether dispensaries should be allowed. The petition committee includes three Democratic candidates for City Council — Sarah Lewis, Mackenzie Myers Fitzpatrick, and Tim Steinhelfer — along with Chamika Collier, Victoria Maddox, and Marc Triplett.
To force a vote, they must collect 363 valid signatures by April 10. If successful, the ban will not go into effect until the issue appears on the November 4 general election ballot alongside races for all seven City Council seats.
“This is about open and transparent government,” said Steinhelfer. “City Council passed this ban with no deliberation or debate. Voters are sick of politicians making decisions in the shadows and ignoring their constituents. It’s time to put power back where it belongs—with the people.”
Fitzpatrick, the lone “no” vote on City Council against the measure said, “Knowing that the majority of our city, not to mention every individual ward, favored adult use cannabis sales in 2023, the ban is both uninformed and lacking clarity on the people’s votes. The ban is clearly an issue that needs to be brought to the voters.”
With the deadline looming, petitioners are urging all Bellefontaine residents who believe in government accountability and economic opportunity to sign the petition. Volunteers will be setting up signing stations in the city in the coming weeks.
Supporters meet Saturday on courthouse square to gather signatures BY TOM STEPHENS Examiner Contributor A petition of referendum calling to overturn the Bellefontaine City Council’s recent decisi… Read More
