Troy council bans adult-use cannabis businesses; resident plans to challenge

FILE - In this Thursday June 17, 2021 file photo shows Jake Crisco, general manager of the Green Leaf Medical Cannibis facility, holds a mature bud of marijuana at the company's plant in Richmond, Va. Adult recreational use of marijuana will become legal in Virginia this week, but the commercial production and sale of marijuana is still almost three years away. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

Credit: Steve Helber

Credit: Steve Helber

FILE - In this Thursday June 17, 2021 file photo shows Jake Crisco, general manager of the Green Leaf Medical Cannibis facility, holds a mature bud of marijuana at the company's plant in Richmond, Va. Adult recreational use of marijuana will become legal in Virginia this week, but the commercial production and sale of marijuana is still almost three years away. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

The Troy City Council voted Monday to prohibit adult-use cannabis operators from establishing businesses in the city limits.

Proposed ordinances for regulating such operations were postponed indefinitely by the council votes as was a proposal to allow one adult-use cannabis operator in the city in the B-4 zoning district. That proposal would have allowed for a dispensary but prohibited cultivator and processor operations.

The action followed several council committee discussions and then a meeting of council as a whole in mid-December.

Council member Bobby Phillips said his votes were guided by the sale, purchase and possession of cannabis remaining a federal offense.

Ohio voters in late 2023 approved a state issue legalizing use, purchase and possession of cannabis for Ohioans 21 and older.

Ohio law allows each political subdivision to determine if adult use cannabis operators will be permitted in the community and to further decide regulations such as in which zoning district(s) the businesses can locate.

In comments during the meeting, city resident Brad Boehringer told council he planned to pursue a referendum of the dispensary ban vote.

He pointed out that the majority of Troy voters approved the state issue. Council’s votes told residents “their vote doesn’t matter,” Boehringer said.

Contact this contributing writer at nancykburr@aol.com

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