Council restricts tobacco sales, bans medical marijuana industry

The city of Powell is the latest to prohibit the sale of tobacco products to those younger than 21 and to outlaw the cultivation and retail sales of medical marijuana.

Both issues were decided by 7-0 votes Tuesday night by Powell City Council after several months of analysis and discussion.

Columbus and Upper Arlington smoking bans for those under 21 were passed two years ago and have been followed by those in Bexley, Grandview Heights and New Albany.

Councilman Jon Bennehoof expressed conflict over the tobacco sale ban, stating at a previous meeting: “You can go and defend your country, but you can’t buy a pack of cigarettes?” But he voted in favor, he said, due in part to his own former smoking habit and realization of the health dangers.

“I quit when my dad was dying of leukemia. ... I’m not sure that’s what caused it. But he smoked.”

Ohio’s current minimum age to purchase tobacco products is 18.

Several spoke in favor of the ban, including Glenn Fisher, of the Delaware Tobacco-free Coalition, who said that 95 percent of smokers start before turning 21.

Linda Diamond, of the American Lung Association, said that 235 cities and counties nationwide have adopted similar bans encompassing 66 million people.

Delaware County Juvenile Court Judge David A. Hejmanowski noted that while juveniles can’t buy cigarettes, “it tends to be their 18 year-old friends.”

Young smokers, he said, also dramatically engage in other risky behavior, including alcohol consumption and sexual activity, describing a correlation, not causation effect.

“If kids are willing to engage in smoking, they are more often to engage in these other behaviors,” Hejmanowski said.

Resident Andrea Norris told the council members that controlling the purchase of cigarettes will minimize exposure in the community, which will cause a “trickle effect to others who are not the age to purchase.”

Powell also removed itself from consideration for one of the 24 licensed marijuana grower operations that the state will approve under a new law allowing for medical cannabis, as allowed by H.B. 523.

While other jurisdictions have passed moratoriums, including Bexley, Grove City and Westerville, Powell voted to approve an outright ban.

“Obviously, we feel it’s something more finite. A moratorium you can challenge,” said Councilman Frank Bertone, who said the city doesn’t have the land or resources for such an operation to begin with.