Pubdate: Thu, 25 Aug 2016
Source: Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Copyright: 2016 Morning Journal
Contact:  http://www.morningjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3569
Author: Kaylee Remington

CITY TALKS MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Council Moving for Medical Marijuana Moratorium

With the term medical marijuana buzzing around, Avon Lake City 
Council's safety committee moved along a moratorium to a collective 
committee meeting during its meeting Aug. 24.

"A number of communities are doing this to allow for the dust to 
settle," said Safety Committee Chair David Kos, adding that they want 
to see how everything will land in place and how it will take effect.

Mayor Greg Zilka agreed with Kos that a lot of communities are taking 
action to give them some breathing room.

Council President Martin O'Donnell said they need to take a good look 
at the law, because it's not all the way put together at the state level.

"We'll have the opportunity to study it and review it," he said. 
"We'll have the chance to analyze and take our time with it."

Kos said the moratorium will be for 180 days and will be passed on 
first reading when it reaches City Council. The law, which was signed 
by Gov. John Kasich in June, lets people use the drug in vapor form 
for health conditions that are chronic, but bars patients from 
smoking marijuana or growing it at home. A panel will put together 
the rules and regulations which will consist of the Ohio Department 
of Commerce, state Medical Board and Board of Pharmacy.

Avon Lake isn't the only community looking at this. The city of North 
Olmsted heard a first reading Aug. 16 of a six-month moratorium on 
medical marijuana, so it can review the law that will go into effect 
Sept. 8. The moratorium would be set on the granting of building 
permits or certificates of occupancy for any structure to let it 
cultivate, process or sell medical marijuana.

North Olmsted's administration, City Council and the city's Planning 
and Design Commission would look at all state statutes, criminal 
codes and the city's zoning codes before deciding what it wants to do.

Sheffield Village Council discussed a moratorium as well and will 
talk more about it during Council's Sept. 12 meeting.

In other news, the Safety Committee also talked about the dog 
ordinance since the year since it's been passed will be coming up in October.

Police Chief Duane Streator said since the ordinance has passed, one 
dog has been tagged as a nuisance and six others have been tagged as dangerous.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom