Massillon sets public hearing to hear residents' voices on recreational marijuana

MASSILLON – City Council is taking a cautious approach to legislation that aims to establish boundaries and fees for recreational marijuana shops.

On Monday night, council gave a pair of marijuana proposals first reading, meaning that members want more discussion and public input before making a decision.

"Our thinking is to give people a chance to speak on this first," Councilman Mark Lombardi, R-Ward 1, said.

A public hearing to discuss recreational marijuana has been set for 5:30 p.m. Aug. 12 in the council chamber at City Hall, 2 James Duncan Plaza SE.

At least 61 Ohio municipalities that have approved moratoriums prohibiting adult-use cannabis businesses as of June 13, according to the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. The law school has been tracking the issue statewide as communities decide whether to permit such businesses after Ohio voters approved allowing recreational marijuana last fall.

North Canton voted Monday to prohibit the businesses.

Pot props: Recreational marijuana shops would be excluded from opening in Massillon historic district

Allowing more time for debate on recreational marijuana seems prudent, said Development Director Ted Herncane , who has been talking with businesses looking at opening a shop in Massillon.

"We don't want City Council to rush into anything," he said. "But we also don't want (the issue) to drag on forever."

Two city proposals are on the table regarding marijuana. One is to authorize the recreational aspect as an official use in Massillon — falling in line with the state issue — while the other sets fees and assigns areas where marijuana businesses can open.

Massillon is considering setting a provisional or startup fee per marijuana dispensary at $50,000, with a $50,000 operations license due a year later. A license renewal would cost an operator $100,000 every two years after that.

Buckeye Relief of Eastlake is one operator city officials have talked to. It is eyeing a downtown business suite, according to Herncane, who said another operator is interested in a building near Target on Lincoln Way E .

State, city voters soundly approved recreational marijuana issue last fall

Last year, voters in Ohio approved an initiative to regulate and legalize recreational marijuana ― Issue 2 , which allows adults 21 and older to possess, grow and use it for recreational purposes.

Massillon voters approved the legalization with 57% of the vote. Based largely on the city's vote, Lombardi said recreational marijuana coming in is more likely than not.

"I don't see away around it," said Lombardi, who requested the public hearing next month. "There is some revenue to be made here. We just need to have some control on where these (businesses) go."

Reach Steven at steven.grazier@indeonline.com . On X: @sgrazierINDE

This article originally appeared on The Independent: Massillon sets public hearing to hear residents' voices on recreational marijuana