CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — Circleville City Council extended the city’s moratorium on marijuana businesses for another six months, passing emergency legislation Aug. 4 that keeps cannabis cultivators, processors and dispensaries barred from operating in the city through Feb. 6, 2027.
Resolution No. 08.52-2026 extends a moratorium council first adopted in August 2024 under Resolution 08-54-2024, then extended twice more, most recently through Resolution 01-06-2026 earlier this year. Under the extension, no adult-use or medical marijuana cultivation, processing or retail dispensing may be authorized or established within city limits.
Council said in the resolution it wants more time to study whether to limit or prohibit cannabis-related businesses, or instead develop zoning and location rules that would allow them to operate under regulation.
The resolution cites the city’s home rule authority under the Ohio Constitution and state law provisions that let municipalities restrict or prohibit adult-use and medical marijuana operators within their limits, despite Ohio voters legalizing recreational marijuana sale, use and home cultivation for adults 21 and older in the November 2023 election.
Council declared the resolution an emergency measure to avoid delays in the city’s application and contracting process, allowing it to take effect immediately upon passage.
The moratorium will run until Feb. 6, 2027, or until council adopts permanent cannabis business regulations, whichever comes first, according to the resolution.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the City of Circleville.
