Law Director John Hatcher will research the legality of local recreational marijuana dispensaries. Scott Truxell/Van Wert independent
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor
Will recreational marijuana dispensaries be legal in Van Wert? That’s a question to be answered sometime in 2024.
During Monday night’s meeting of Van Wert City Council, Mayor Ken Markward noted medical marijuana dispensaries were deemed off-limits in the city limits several years ago, after Ohio voters approved the use of medical marijuana in the Buckeye State.
While it failed locally, the majority of voters statewide approved the legalization of recreational marijuana last month, and Markward said it’s time to determine if recreational marijuana dispensaries will be allowed in Van Wert. If the next council eventually decides to ban such establishments, they’ll have to pass an ordinance to that effect.
Markward told council he asked Law Director John Hatcher to look into the matter.
“Anything that is not medical marijuana wouldn’t fall under (ordinance) 150.95 at least the way you read it so that will have to be reviewed,” Hatcher said. “One thing that I’m looking for in the legislation that’s going through the Statehouse is what kind of prohibitions local government can put in on placements and whether or