797.04 MEDICAL MARIJUANA CULTIVATOR, PROCESSOR AND DISPENSARY FINDINGS.

   The City Council makes the following legislative findings:

   (a)   The City Council finds that on May 25, 2016, the House and Senate of the State of Ohio passed House Bill 523 legalizing the use or possession of medical marijuana or paraphernalia or accessories by registered patients in Ohio to treat a qualifying medical condition. House Bill 523 also requires the Department of Commerce and State Board of Pharmacy to administer a Medical Marijuana Program. The Bill was signed by Governor John Kasich on June 8, 2016 and became effective on September 8, 2016.

   (b)   The City Council finds and determines that O.R.C. Chapter 3796 authorizes and establishes rules, regulations, and procedures for establishing and operating medical marijuana cultivators, processors and dispensaries.

   (c)   The City Council finds and determines that the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program Code provides a statutory framework for the regulation of medical marijuana cultivators, processors and dispensaries, which will be supplemented by rules adopted by the Ohio Department of Commerce.

   (d)   The City Council finds and determines that, by requiring medical marijuana cultivators, processors and dispensaries to be operated in a manner that minimizes potential health and safety risks, the negative impacts that such uses might have on surrounding properties and persons are mitigated.

   (e)   The City Council finds and determines that through this Chapter it intends to establish a nondiscriminatory mechanism by which the City may control, through appropriate regulation, the location and operation of medical marijuana cultivators, processors and dispensaries within the City so as to preserve community values and promote the health, safety and welfare of the City's residents.

      (Ord. 33-2019. Passed 4-25-19.)