CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — The City of Chillicothe is set to discuss a temporary moratorium on new marijuana dispensaries within its city limits. The measure, titled “An Ordinance to impose a moratorium on the location of Adult Cannabis Operators within the City of Chillicothe, as defined by Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3780, and declaring an emergency,” will be debated at a city council meeting on Monday at 7 p.m. at the council chambers in the old Municipal Court building.
Even though Chillicothe is a statutory city, meaning it can only enact laws written into the Ohio Revised Code, the state law allows for municipalities to “opt-out” — or ban — dispensaries from their towns.
The proposed ordinance in Chillicothe aims to pause the establishment of new cannabis operators for up to one year, although city officials suggest the actual duration might be significantly shorter. This comes as Ohio navigates the recent legalization of recreational marijuana, which was passed by voters in 2023 with Issue 2. In Chillicothe, recreational marijuana was overwhelming passed on the ballot by city voters. Only two of the city’s 21 voting precincts voted down the issue.
There’s only one licensed marijuana dispensary currently operating in Chillicothe, with no recorded complaints of illegal operations. However, there’s confusion regarding CBD stores, which sell hemp products under the 2018 Farm Bill, often mistaken for marijuana. Currently, such a CBD store recently opened on Western Avenue called “Western Avenue Exotics.” The owner of the store claims the establishment acts solely under the Farm Bill, despite their flashy advertisement outside the building which shows what appears to be a marijuana leaf and pictures of flower, that could be mistaken as marijuana nuggets. He is holding an event and giving away four free “pre-rolls” to anyone who attends the council meeting to oppose the law. The certificate for the “pre-rolls can be picked up at the council meeting.
“Seems they waited 120 days to ‘grandfather’ the corporate store on Bridge Street in. So much for American capitalism and freedom of choice where to spend your money. Welcome to the Monopoly Game,” the owner posted on social media.
Other stores in Chillicothe sell strictly under the Farm Bill, and their owners told the Guardian that if a pending-state initiative passes on the state level banning CBD stores in Ohio, the store will be forced to close shop, costing families, such as five employees and the owners their livelihoods.
Citizens have taken to social media to express their views about Monday nights proposed legislation. Michael Boyles sarcastically remarked, “Ah, yes. I’m sure the hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars that the state mandates to give back to the community will outweigh the overwhelming paranoia that marijuana gives to the upstanding 6% of the upper class children in Chillicothe.”
Rhonda Jacobs was more direct, questioning the council’s authority, “So who made council God of Chillicothe? You did this before with the red light cameras. Chillicothe people are strong and I think they can beat you again! Why don’t you use all this unwanted energy to good use? Stop fentanyl, meth and coke. Fix the roads.”
Velvet Withrow added, “I sit at home and medicate with medical marijuana. I don’t bother anyone. And it helps with physical pain for me when nothing else worked. Ridiculous. It won’t happen. The people will speak!”
Council member Dan DeMint, representing the city’s east side, clarified the intent behind the legislation.
“My thoughts on this legislation are a little mixed. Firstly, I want to be clear, this legislation proposes a simple pause. A one-year pause, but most likely nowhere near that length of time would be necessary. I can assure you, Chillicothe is not banning marijuana, nor is it trying to.” DeMint emphasized that the moratorium would allow time to finalize zoning updates to ensure an orderly integration of cannabis sales and encouraged citizens to express their support or non-support for the issue at council meetings.
DeMint added that stores that are currently an operation should continue to be allowed to do business.
“It is my opinion that those shops already operational should be able to continue sales during the short moratorium, especially since they are already located in commercial zoned areas, and are contributing economically. I do think it’s a necessary step but I would really like to see the legislation re-worked so that currently operational shops would not be included in any moratorium.”
Local attorney Michael Warren, of Warren Law Firm and Buckeye Legal, who has attended related city meetings about the matter, criticized the proposal, stating, “Council members acknowledged they have no right to regulate Farm Bill stores or sales of diet weed at gas stations. So, Council is not attacking the place on Western Avenue. It’s a solution in search of a problem… Council’s goal is to appease voters. A handful of residents complained saying they don’t want teenagers smoking weed in front of their house or they don’t want a dispensary near their church. Council should have responded that we already have laws in place to deal with those issues. Instead, council kowtowed to the ‘not in my neighborhood’ complaints and wasted money creating a new law that accomplishes absolutely nothing.”
According to the State of Ohio, who issues dispensary licenses, there are no plans to issue new ones anytime soon. The sole-location that operates in Chillicothe is located about 500 feet into the city limits on the edge of Bridge Street, surrounded by other commercial buildings. They will be allowed to stay opened, but should the state start issuing more licenses in the coming year — and if the measure passes in Chillicothe after three readings, no new dispensaries will be allowed to locate into town. The CBD stores will go unaffected by the measure, unless the pending state bill passes and is signed into law.