Pot ordinance amended

City Council sets up licensing for marijuana dispensaries

Eastlake City Council has amended the medical marijuana cultivating ordinance to add provisions for the licensing of medical marijuana dispensaries in the city.

Licensing has not yet been approved for medical marijuana cultivating facilities in Ohio, but Eastlake City Council passed the ordinance at its Oct. 24 meeting so those wishing to operate dispensaries can apply for the needed licensing when the time comes.

According to Mayor Dennis Morley, the regulations in the ordinance are designed to keep dispensaries set up and operating as more of a clinic-type environment instead of what you would see in a head shop. The dispensaries, according to the ordinance, are not to maintain an interior or exterior look that promotes illicit use of marijuana and are not to use strobe,

As part of the application process all owners and operators will be fingerprinted by the Eastlake Police Department at the applicant’s expense.

moving or flashing lights.

Buckeye Relief, the company currently seeking a license for a medical marijuana cultivating facility in Eastlake, had previously expressed interest in a dispensary as well.

Morley said the company would be a candidate for one and is aware of the amended ordinance.

There was a question of allowing delivery of the medical marijuana products but the ordinance is requiring that any transaction be restricted to within the dispensary.

According to the ordinance, there will be a $15,000 licensing fee to obtain a dispensary license, with only half the fee being refunded if licensing is denied, There will be no refund if license is suspended or revoked.

As part of the application

process all owners and operators will be fingerprinted by the Eastlake Police Department at the applicant’s expense.

Applications are to be submitted to the safety director who will then turn them over to the Planning Commission. The commission, following a public hearing, will issue a report back to the safety director within 10 days.

Upon receiving the report the safety director will have 10 days to issue or deny the license, which can be revoked if ordinance violations occur. If the license is the denied the applicant can within 10 days file a written appeal to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

The ordinance passed by a 5-1 vote with Kimberly Evers, Ken Hoefle, Jason Kasunick, John Meyers, and David Spotton voting in favor and Michael Zuren voting against. Laura DePledge was absent from the vote.