Newark City Council votes to limit Recreational Marijuana sales to existing dispensaries
Newark City Council Limits Recreational Marijuana Sales to Existing Medical Dispensaries.
Newark City Council members unanimously passed an ordinance that would limit the number of locations where recreational marijuana can be sold.
According to the ordinance, only the existing medical marijuana facilities in Newark will be able to obtain a dual-use license.
There are currently three medical marijuana dispensaries in Newark.
The ordinance was discussed during the city's July 1 meeting, which was streamed on the city's YouTube page:
The ordinance requires any facility that wishes to apply for a dual-use license to already "possess and maintain an operation as a medical marijuana dispensary and be complaint with the state."
Last month, ABC6 covered the debate among Newark city leaders over how many locations within the jurisdictions should be granted a dual-use license.
"This marijuana is not the same we grew up with," council member Beth Bline said during the meeting. "There is no good data out there yet because it's still being tested. There is nothing foundational to say whether or not it's harmful to people in the long term."
Council member Jonathan Lang said he supported the ordinance.
"I think this is a good compromise that gets us to a place where we are not over regulating the market," Lang said. "I am not totally happy with it, but I think at the end of the day, we've got to find common ground."
Other Central Ohio cities are considering creating their own regulations for recreational marijuana.
Westerville City Council voted to enact a moratorium on the sale of recreational cannabis in the suburb. A spokesperson from the city told ABC6 the decision would give Westerville more time to gather data and monitor developments at the state level.
