MADISON TOWNSHIP — Madison Township trustees unanimously passed a resolution prohibiting the retail sale and cultivation of cannabis within township limits on Monday night.
The measure echoes the recent actions of many other surrounding municipalities including Ashland, Shelby, Lexington, Washington Township and others.
The Village of Bellville passed a six-month moratorium on cannabis businesses in January and the City of Ontario will read a similar ordinance at its meeting Wednesday.
“I shared our resolution that we first had six years ago with our township representative in the Richland County Prosecutor’s office when these two gentlemen first came,” said trustee Tom Craft.
“This came from the Ohio Township Association and was reviewed by the prosecutor’s office.”
The ordinance prohibits adult-use cannabis facilities including cultivation, processing and retail dispensaries in the township limits.
The ordinance does not limit a resident’s right to consume or grow marijuana on their own property according to Ohio Revised Code regulations. Legal consumption is limited to 21 and older for recreational users and 18 and older for medical users.
About 20 residents attended the township trustee meeting, most of whom argued against allowing a dispensary in the township. According to the Richland County Board of Elections, a 54.4% majority of Madison Township residents voted in favor of recreational cannabis.
Cindy Lewis, a licensed counselor who focuses on grief counseling for children, said she works with multiple children who have been affected by their parents’ use of marijuana and other drugs.
“I’ve been a counselor in our community for 26 years, so I’ve seen the good and the bad in our community,” she said. “When I was counseling at Mansfield Correctional Institute, a lot of the inmates told me my gateway drug was marijuana.
“I think we need to keep that in mind to keep our community safe for our families.”
Richland County Juvenile Court Judge Steve McKinley said he hoped the township would vote against allowing dispensaries.
“I wanted to speak to that as an interested citizen, not as a juvenile court judge,” he said.
“I don’t think medical use justifies recreational use. If there’s a medical purpose, that justifies the medical use … The state medical board has said these are legitimate uses, but recreational use is someone impairing their mental abilities.”
About 57% of voters statewide approved Issue 2 in November, according to the Ohio Secretary of State.
It is illegal to operate a vehicle while under the influence of marijuana. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends against consuming marijuana when pregnant or underage.
Also in Monday’s meeting:
- Trustees renewed Fire Chief Ken Justus’ contract for another three years. He is entering his fourth year as fire chief with the township.
- Sheriff Steve Sheldon discussed his re-election campaign with meeting attendees. His challengers Matt Mayer and Donald Zehner have attended previous meetings.
- Fiscal officer Leanna Rhodes read a letter from Mansfield-Richland County Public Library representative Beth Donaldson. The Madison branch manager announced in the letter that all MRCPL branches will offer free eclipse glasses to patrons while supplies last starting March 11.
- Justus said the fire department received a $7,340 grant from the Ohio State Fire Marshal for two complete sets of turnout gear.
- Trustees voted to appoint chairman Tom Craft to Richland County’s 9-1-1 program review committee.