The following 47 local governments passed moratoriums on recreational marijuana businesses operating in their boundaries by March 31, 2024. (Ohio State University’s Drug Enforcement and Policy Center)Ohio State University’s Drug Enforcement and Policy Center
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Forty-seven Ohio cities and townships — and counting — have at least temporarily banned recreational marijuana businesses, after Ohio voters passed in November the initiated statute allowing adults aged 21 and older to purchase and consume cannabis.
Among the communities that have banned marijuana businesses in their boundaries are several communities in Northeast Ohio, such as Avon Lake, North Olmsted, North Royalton, Brunswick, Medina Township, Westlake and Beachwood, according to new research from Ohio State University’s Drug Enforcement and Policy Center, which looked at ordinances in Ohio cities up to March 31.
Lakewood also passed a temporary prohibition on adult-use business, even though two medical dispensaries operate in the city. City officials last November said that they were prohibiting the businesses while the legislature made changes to the initiated statute, which would give the city time to tailor its ordinances around that. However, the General Assembly is at an impasse over any potential changes and state regulators are proceeding with writing agency rules based on the law Ohio voters passed.
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