March 20, 2017 - Medical Marijuana Public Hearing

Public Hearing
March 20, 2017
 
Council Members Present:
Mike Schwab, Mayor                          Tom Hilliard, Council
Chuck Hawk, Council                          Dale Fox, Council
Paul Mackey, Council
 
Village Officials Present:
John Anthony, Solicitor                       Kris King, Clerk-Treasurer
Mike Miller, Village Administrator
 
Audience Members:
Ray Heitger, Ryan Swan, Jim and Jenny Spivey, Dave Godwin, Steve Tharp, and Jim Barnhart of Brewster Cheese.
 
Meeting opened at 6:47 p.m. with the Mayor reviewing the timeline of House Bill 523 which legalizes medical marijuana in the state of Ohio.  Solicitor Anthony provided draft legislation for the Village outlining the Planning Commission’s recommendations following a January 19th meeting.  Those recommendations are as follows:
  •          Prohibition of medical marijuana cultivators, processors, and dispensaries within the municipal corporation in all zoning districts in the Village, with the exception that its sale shall be permitted by a licensed pharmacy in the same manner as other prescription drugs are sold.
  •          Also the prohibition set forth shall not apply to licensed facilities involving research related to marijuana conducted at a state university, academic medical center, or by a private research and development corporation as part of a research protocol approved by an institutional review board or equivalent entity as provided in 3796.29 or the Ohio Revised Code.
  •          The Village Planning Commission forwarded the recommendation to Village Council
Councilman Tharp asked for clarification on what is considered a cultivator.  Solicitor Anthony stated that cultivators are regulated and licensed Ohio Department of Commerce.  There are two levels:
  •          Level I: 18 licenses will be issued.  There is a $ 20,000 application fee and the license fee will cost $ 180,000 and is limited to 15,000 sq. ft. of growing space
  •          Level II:  12 licenses will be issued.  There is a $ 2,000 application fee and the license will cost $ 18,000 fee and is limited to 1,600 sq. ft. of growing space 
The State will only grant certain operations to grow the plants.
 
Councilman Godwin stated as a professional addiction counselor, it’s important to realize that smoking marijuana is dangerous and just one joint has as much tar as two packs of cigarettes.  The medical marijuana will be in pill or liquid form.  He stated medical marijuana is also being looked at for ADHD instead of Ritalin.  Councilman Godwin also stated that with the change in the presidential office, federal law is not going to allow marijuana to be legalized.  He stated that federal law trumps state law.
 
Councilman Tharp asked if the Police Department has processes for handling medical marijuana.  Solicitor Anthony stated it is not contraband.  Councilman Godwin stated the amount dispensed will be regulated.
 
 
Meeting adjourned at 7:01 P.M.
 

Kris King, Clerk-Treasurer