×

Leetonia Council indicates desire to ban med pot dispensaries

LEETONIA — In a brief committee discussion prior to Wednesday’s regular meeting, village council indicated a desire to join Columbiana in banning medical marijuana dispensaries.

In discourse presented by Councilman Dave Keeler, who raised the issue last month, council suggested the ban of dispensaries will eventually occur, even though no motion or recommendation was provided to council as a whole.

Keeler noted he believes medical use of marijuana is one step closer to recreational use and that other municipalities in the area have, or plan to, ban the dispensaries. He said following suit shows support for local leaders of each municipality.

Columbiana recently banned medical marijuana dispensaries, joining others across the state to stop future medical marijuana businesses after Gov. John Kasich signed a bill allowing the use that took effect in September.

The law provides options for municipalities to place a moratorium to limit the location of retail establishments, producers or anyone who is involved in the production end of the business, or to simply ban it altogether.

Keeler on Wednesday reiterated his feelings he expressed last month regarding the presence of a medical marijuana dispensary.

“I think it’s bad for kids walking by and seeing [a marijuana business],” he said. “Marijuana is marijuana, and that’s where you get started with the stronger stuff.”

Mayor Kevin Siembida, who previously acknowledged the issue to be essentially a state and federal one, but noted the village has a responsibility to monitor how it is handled “in our own backyard,” said he feels the social costs of a marijuana dispensary do not outweigh the income that would be generated from such a business. He pointed to the increase in issues such as homelessness and emergency room visits in other areas around the country with medical marijuana use as examples.

The short discussion prompted some dissension from a resident in the audience, though.

Bill Evans said he never has or plans to be a member of the “marijuana community,” but said he believes the village needs to abide by the voice of the people, noting that voters approved the medical use of the drug. He said banning medical marijuana dispensaries because it can lead to recreational use is comparable to banning drug stores because opioids lead to heroin use.

Siembida responded that council is not looking to prohibit use of medical marijuana, just the operation of dispensaries in the village.

Evans acknowledged the fact in Siembida’s reply, but explained that it is not the village’s responsibility to worry about the neighborhood children, that the parents must teach their own children whether marijuana use is acceptable.

“It’s been approved for the state,” he said. “Why make it hard (to get) for people who need it? There’s always going to be those who abuse (legal drugs).”

Police Chief Harry Lovejoy Jr., however, noted the presence of a dispensary is far more concerning than the medical use of marijuana.

“Dispensaries disturb communities and generally wreak havoc,” he said, providing council with information that showed an increase in robberies, thefts and assaults surrounding the facilities. “My fear is what will happen with the facility itself, that it will create a significant burden on the police department.”

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today