Public encouraged to attend city council meeting
COSHOCTON – Coshocton City Council will have a special council meeting on Tuesday, May 30 at 7 p.m. in council chambers to discuss a resolution concerning Medical Marijuana manufacturing/dispensary facilities in the City of Coshocton. The public is encouraged to attend.
Mayor Steve Mercer brought up the subject of medical marijuana, which is now legal in Ohio, and some legislation that council might want to consider at the May 22 city council meeting. He explained to council that companies can apply in June to establish cultivation, processing, laboratory or dispensary medical marijuana businesses in communities. As part of that application though they must have a letter of welcoming from the area they are looking at locating in. Government entities, however, can pass legislation to prohibit or limit these businesses in their areas. Mercer shared that a company has already expressed interest in building a cultivation facility in Coshocton so the city needs to start considering how they want to proceed with this topic and if there is a need for a hearing to get public input.
Some council members were intrigued by the jobs this industry could create for our community while others questioned how it would impact crime rate and our youth.
“The money that could be made for our city from this is just a small part of what we need to look at,” said Council President Cliff Biggers. “In my law enforcement career I saw drugs tear up communities, families, possibilities, dreams and hopes. We must be cautious and very careful with our decisions.”
As council president, Biggers doesn’t have a vote on matters, but if he did he said his would be no on this topic.
Category: Government
