An area media outlet, The Vindicator, experiences
Austintown will refuse to approve any marijuana dispensaries within the metropolis till no less than 2025.
Trustees Robert Santos and Bruce Shepas voted Monday to impose a moratorium till no less than the tip of the 12 months, citing monetary and authorized considerations concerning the companies.
“There have been a whole lot of inquiries to the town about what our legal guidelines are and when Austintown goes to begin approving dispensaries opening in our metropolis,” Shepas mentioned. “We're nonetheless ready for extra directions from the state. Proper now, our understanding is that we are able to't approve something, however as soon as these extra directions come out of Gov. (Mike) DeWine's workplace, then we can approve or deny some purposes “.
Shepas mentioned the municipality is ready to seek out out first what number of dispensaries are allowed within the metropolis. He mentioned the trustees are additionally involved concerning the monetary points of the regulation voters accredited in November.
The regulation, positioned on the poll as Subject 2, features a 10% gross sales tax on the sale of marijuana. Of that tax income, Shepas mentioned, 55% will go to the state, which is able to then return 36% to the communities that host dispensaries. One other 36% would go to a social fairness and hashish employment fund, 25% to the state substance abuse and dependancy fund, and three% to the state division of management of hashish and the fund of the tax fee.
The Superintendent of the Hashish Division, Jim Canepas, mentioned final week that he expects the state to have the purposes for dispensaries prepared by June 7 and that the permits might be issued by September 7.
However Shepas mentioned trustees are involved concerning the uncertainty surrounding the regulation within the governor's workplace and the legislature.
“Primarily based on what we all know, the governor is attempting to redo what the folks voted for and we're not comfy approving any dispensaries at the moment till we’ve extra directions,” he mentioned.
Shepas mentioned DeWine talked about the elimination of 36% – which might be put right into a fund of hashish amenities of the host communities – leaving the native communities with none monetary profit from the sale of marijuana.
On this case, he mentioned, it could not make a lot monetary sense for Austintown to approve dispensaries within the municipality, and voters within the municipality solely accredited the measure with a vote of about 55-45%, making it a sizzling difficulty.
Shepas mentioned people are nonetheless allowed by regulation to develop as much as 12 marijuana crops at house, and the municipality has no plans to intrude with that proper.
Metropolis police emphasised that it stays unlawful to own marijuana in a automobile and not using a medical marijuana card till the state absolutely implements the phrases of Subject 2.
Shepas mentioned it doesn’t matter what occurs, he’s involved about public security.
“I strongly consider will probably be extra of a burden on the police if that is carried out,” he mentioned.
“My concern could be the youthful technology utilizing it and getting behind the wheel, so hopefully we'll see a rise in EMS and police calls responding to accidents.”
https://www.vindy.com/information/local-news/2024/04/austintown-bans-marijuana-dispensaries/
