MANSFIELD — City council approved legislation prohibiting the cultivation, processing and retail distribution of medical marijuana within city limits at its regular meeting Tuesday night.
Council heard from both sides of the issue during a preceding zoning committee meeting.
Police Chief Ken Coontz was among the proponents of the ban, pointing to the state of Colorado as one reason why allowing medical marijuana dispensaries in Mansfield wouldn’t be in the city’s best interest.
He referenced an annual Colorado report which shows increases in car fatalities, juvenile drug-use and criminal organizations, among other alarming statistics in the state.
“We have a lot of problems we haven’t even dealt with yet,” he said. “We’re just stacking more problems on top of each other. We’re going through a heroin epidemic right now that’s destroying families. Do we really want this problem laying on top of that problem?”
He argued against the rationale that allowing medical marijuana dispensaries could boost the city’s economy, saying there are other ways to attract businesses into the community.
“We’re a community of children and families and at some point, revenue doesn’t matter as much as maintaining the security and sanctity of your community and of your families,” he said.
However Jean Taddie said it’s not fair to compare Ohio with Colorado, since Colorado legalized recreational marijuana and Ohio legalized strictly medical marijuana.
“It’s not the same apples-to-apples comparison with Colorado,” she said, adding that Ohio has “the most restrictive medical marijuana laws in the country.”
Mansfield resident John Precup said he’s used cannabis-based medicine, along with other pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter drugs and vitamins, to ease symptoms of his multiple sclerosis for 30 years.
He believes that the “availability of a legal-regulated supply will help some patients and their caregivers maintain a better quality of life, and by taking the black market, the drug dealers, out of the equation, it will help control the unrestricted supply.
Ben Mutti of the Richland Community Prayer Network spoke in favor of the ban, making his stance known at a prior council meeting.
Fifth Ward Councilman Jason Lawrence sponsored the legislation (two pieces total). One bill deals specifically with zoning and the other pertains to business regulations, authorizing a $100 daily fine to any company that violates the prohibition.
Law Director John Spon explained the reason for the two pieces of legislation.
“If that ($100/day penalty) were ever struck down as being unconstitutional under some type of argument, our zoning prohibition would still stand,” he said. “This legislation is not a moratorium; it’s an actual real-time prohibition, and I’m strongly recommending that it be passed on an emergency basis because the applicants to set up these dispensaries, cultivating farms, processing plants have until Nov. 17 to apply.
“If this is passed as emergency legislation, it would send a message that we don’t want it. We don’t believe it’s good for our community. I’ve conferred with our chief of police — he’s in total agreement. We have enough addictions in our society, and we don’t need it. We can build industry based upon other facets that don’t add to the social ills of our society.”
J.R. Rice, manager of codes and permits, said one Arizona-based organization was already granted zoning approval to establish a medical marijuana dispensary in the city.
Now with the legislation, the operation will be prohibited.
Fourth Ward Councilman Butch Jefferson was the only council member to vote no on the legislation.
He said he doesn’t understand why anyone would be against medical marijuana, noting its use for alleviating pain associated with glaucoma or cancer. He said the city needs to be progressive, especially if it wants to attract younger generations to the area.
“I might be a little biased,” he said. “I grew up in the 60s and I went to Vietnam and I smoked marijuana. And that was a release for me when I came out of that jungle where somebody was trying to kill me, and I had to kill or be killed. Once marijuana became illegal as far as concerning my job, 25-30 years ago, I stopped.
“If you’re going to be legal, you’re going to be legal. If you’re going to be a criminal, you’re going to be a criminal.”
To strip people of the opportunity to obtain medical marijuana within the city “is not a good idea,” he said.
