Robert Wilson shares his thoughts on a medical marijuana dispensary during Monday night’s meeting of Van Wert City Council. Scott Truxell/VW independent
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor
It was standing room only at Monday night’s Van Wert City Council meeting and most of the attendees were there to discuss marijuana dispensaries in the city limits.
After nearly an hour of comments from the public, council members voted 5-1 in favor of lifting the city’s ban on medical marijuana dispensaries, with Councilwoman At-Large Judy Bowers voting against it. At-Large Councilwoman Jana Ringwald was absent from the meeting. It was the second of three readings/votes. A third and final vote is scheduled to take place on June 24 and if has at least four votes in favor, the ban will be rescinded, meaning an eligible business could apply for a license to sell medical marijuana in Van Wert. That could open the door for the dispensary to apply for a license to sell recreational marijuana, which became legal last November.
Approximately 30 people showed up for Monday’s meeting and of the nine who spoke, seven were against a medical or recreational marijuana dispensary, one was for it and another remained neutral, but pointed out