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MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP — More than 30 people attended the Mifflin Township trustees meeting on Tuesday to voice their opinions on a proposed marijuana dispensary near Interstate 71.
Trustees said they also received multiple emails for and against a dispensary at a Crider Road address.
Mifflin Township passed a medical marijuana dispensary ban in 2017 after the state of Ohio legalized medical use. Trustee chair John Jaholnycky said the board will consider an update to the medical ban at a special meeting scheduled for July 8 at 5:45 p.m.
“We have to listen to our constituents and it’s just not a good fit,” Jaholnycky said. “It’s all new. We don’t know how much we’d get if we allowed this.”
PharmaCann’s chief investment officer Greg Fodell told Richland Source in a phone call Wednesday that the company considered a location at exit 176 as a potential site because of its accessibility off the highway.
“The ease of access and it’s an underserved area,” he said. “Projected revenue is hard to say because we’ve never had adult-use recreation in Ohio before, but in a similar community in Illinois, we average about $10 million in sales.
“So, that means the host community would receive about $360,000 annually based on those projections.”
Fodell said PharmaCann also invests in security measures, including hiring off-duty police officers for the first few weeks of opening a site at other properties.
“I can’t think off the top of my head of us ever having a security incident,” he said.
Rogers: ‘No one wants to do anything’ with exit 176
Of 20 people who spoke during public comment at the meeting, more than half were against a dispensary at the location, which would be near Phantom Fireworks on Crider Road and Heritage Inn on Koogle Road.
Jim Rogers, the largest property owner at Exit 176, expressed his support for a dispensary. He said interested companies have passed on his property in the township due to the exit’s current lack of sewer and water connectivity, and lack of high-speed internet.
“I’m all for anything at that intersection, I want to sell it,” he said. “We have no water and sewer, and no broadband access and this dispensary seems to be the only company that’s willing to invest money into fixing that.”
Rogers owns about 1,000 acres of land in Mifflin Township. He has lived in the township since 1986.
“That exit has north, south, east and west access, and no one wants to do anything with it — it’s a waste,” he said.
Andy Cordas, a Madison Township resident, also said he would want a dispensary near his home.
“I’ve had osteoarthritis for many, many years,” he said. “Medical marijuana helps alleviate my pain.
“When talking about a moratorium, I think they do very little for communities besides prohibit commercial growth and restrict community members’ employment. It would encourage illicit market participation without one.”
‘That’s our backyard’
Tyler Sauder, who lives on Crider Road, said he worries a dispensary could increase traffic in the area.
“That might be out of town or out on the highway for you guys, but for some of us, that’s our backyard,” he said. “We already have bad traffic with the hotel … we can’t even keep that under control and I think a dispensary would add to that problem.”
Jaholnycky said he appreciated meeting attendees voicing their concerns.
“It’s our job to do our due diligence,” he said. “I think this has been a good dialogue and we definitely appreciate everyone’s input. You’re welcome to call us if you have any other questions.”
How neighboring communities have responded to Issue 2
The Mifflin Township discussion came weeks after Mansfield City Council voted against a 6-month moratorium on cannabis-related businesses, opening the door for dispensaries to apply for licenses in the city.
Municipalities including Madison Township, the City of Ashland, Shelby and Lexington have voted to prohibit adult-use cannabis businesses within their limits. The majority of Madison Township and Shelby residents voted in favor of legalizing marijuana, as did Mifflin Township voters by one vote.
According to the Richland County Board of Elections, Mifflin Township recorded 1,203 votes for Issue 2 and 1,202 votes against it.
Bellville Village Council recently voted to extend its moratorium through January 2025 and to put the issue of medicinal and recreational marijuana sales in village limits to Bellville voters in the 2024 general election.
The City of Ontario’s moratorium is due to expire this fall if council does not extend the measure.
Municipalities voting against cannabis-related businesses does not affect 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.
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.
According to Ohio Revised Code, dispensaries are currently prohibited within 500 feet of a school, church, public library or public park.
