City Council discusses legal marijuana

The Oberlin City Council is looking for guidance from the Planning Commission, for now, on medical marijuana’s place in the community.

The topic came to light at the Council’s April 3 meeting where members considered the writing of a resolution supporting the newly legalized medicine and encouraging the lawful cultivation, preparation and sale within the city.

The resolution would stand in stark contrast to resolutions passed by other municipalities in the county that quickly passed resolutions barring such operations from within their borders.

Elyria was the first to break with the trend passing a resolution supporting the industry in March.

According to Law Director Jon Clark, the state’s law legalizing the medicinal use of marijuana will be in full effect by Sept. 8, 2018.

Clark clarified the legislation wouldn’t legalize recreational use, production or sale of the drug.

A doctor will need to recommend a patient to use the drug to treat any of a list of 23 maladies, he said.

There is a provision in the statute which prohibits marijuana facilities from within 500 feet of parcels which contain public parks, public libraries, churches or schools, Clark said.

He suggested the topic be referred to the Planning Commission to review the current zoning of the city.

A map Clark prepared showed few areas in the city where facilities could

legally be opened.

Councilman Kelley Singleton passionately supported a resolution inviting the industry to the area citing economic development.

“There (are) opportunities here for job creation, property tax, sales tax that would go to the rest of the state and the county,” Singleton said.

“This is something that I think with other townships, municipalities passing moratoriums; I think it’s important for us to state that we

are open to development and to give Oberlin a shot.”

Councilwoman Sharon Fairchild Soucy said she is inclined to support the resolution, but is looking for more information before moving forward.

Soucy cited experiences she has had with individuals stricken with terminal illnesses, and the positive effects the medicine has had for these people, but she does have concerns.

“I’m concerned about young people and I think that marijuana is one of

the drugs that, while it isn’t the most horrible of drugs, it can make young people stop their lives and behave very stupidly for a number of years of development when they need to be alert and they need to develop all of their capacities,” she said.

Soucy also shared concerns about the amount of manpower many communities expend combatting minor drug offences, and her hope Oberlin doesn’t get bogged down in similar practices.

According to Soucy, the

city has been burned by dragging its feet on other developmental projects, and thus lost out on the profits from those industries.

Council President Ronnie Rimbert raised questions about the effect a resolution welcoming the industry would have on the culture of the city.

“To me, it’s not about an economic gain,” Rimbert said. “For me, it’s the brand of Oberlin. What do we want as Oberlinians? How do we want to be perceived?”