Cannabis dispensary legislation

Spoke in support of licensed cannabis businesses, citing an Ohio State study finding no crime increase around dispensaries, strict state security and seed-to-sale tracking requirements, and noting residents can already buy cannabis 10 minutes away.

An attorney representing GTI Ohio, which wants to locate in Hamilton, complimented council and flagged potentially legally problematic language in the zoning exhibit — the drive-through/curbside pickup ban (accessibility concerns) and age-restriction language for medical patients.

A Hamilton resident who doesn't use marijuana argued dispensaries bring 15-30 jobs and tax revenue, called allowing them pro-business, and said it makes no sense that a village of 700 people has a dispensary while the 10th largest city in Ohio does not.

Noted it has been 981 days since Ohio voters legalized recreational marijuana, argued the state's 36% share of the 10% excise tax is essentially free money, and urged council to eventually pursue cultivation given the city's own utilities and water quality.

Opposed the dispensary approach as written, arguing the city should instead pursue local, pesticide-free cultivation with local investors and workers, and questioned Jobs Ohio's ties to big alcohol; repeatedly pressed council members on whether they support cultivation.