City approves 6-month ban on recreational pot

Hamilton latest in area to impose moratorium on business licenses.

Recreational marijuana use is now legal in Ohio, but until rules and regulations are put in place and licenses are issued, locals can’t yet buy it.

Hamilton, Fairfield, Liberty Twp. and West Chester Twp. this week said they won’t allow businesses to operate even if they obtain a recreational marijuana license for dispensaries, cultivation operations or processing operations.

Hamilton is the latest community in Butler County to enact a temporary ban on recreational marijuana business licenses, approving a six-month moratorium on Wednesday.

On Monday, Fairfield City Council approved by a 6-1 vote to enact a nine-month moratorium disallowing recreational marijuana license-holders from operating within the city. On Tuesday, both Liberty Twp. and West Chester Twp. trustees enacted similar 360-day bans.

The local government leaders said they’ll reconsider the issue before the bans end.

Hamilton took several revisions to the ordinance to be able to pass a temporary ban ahead of Ohio’s recreational marijuana laws taking effect. Because of the uncertainty of how fast or slow the Ohio legislature would move on coming up with rules and regulations, Law Director Letitia Block advised council it would be prudent to have something on the books prior to Thursday.

Though at first councilmember Eric Pohlman did not want to include a timeline with the ban, he conceded first to having a yearlong ban, and then reluctantly to the six-month ban. He said he agreed to the timeline for the good of getting an ordinance in the books, though “it’s against my heart.”

Councilmembers Joel Lauer and Susan Vaughn wanted the timeline, both saying that while it gives the city time to carefully establish possible local rules and

MICHAEL D. PITMAN / STAFF Hamilton City Council on Wednesday voted to approve a six-month moratorium on recreational marijuana business licenses within the city. The ban ends June 12, 2024. Council leaders say they plan to revisit the issue once the state establishes its rules and regulations for licensing and taxation. Liberty Twp. and West Chester Twp. enacted similar temporary bans on Tuesday.

JOSHUA A. BICKEL / AP A sign supporting Issue 2 in a yard on Election Day, in Cincinnati. Ohio voters passed the measure allowing recreational marijuana sales and adult consumption with 57% of the vote.