Trustees pass emergency resolution to prohibit retail adult‑use marijuana sales in West Chester Township
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Summary
The trustees approved an emergency resolution (11‑20‑25) declaring an explicit prohibition on adult‑use marijuana retail sales inside the township, citing state changes (House Bill 96) and prior local moratoria and zoning changes.
The West Chester Township Board of Trustees on May 13 approved an emergency resolution (11‑20‑25) declaring that the township will prohibit retail adult‑use marijuana businesses within township limits.
Miss Brown, township staff, summarized background: Ohio voters approved adult‑use cannabis (Issue 2) in November 2023 and the township enacted moratoria on retail sales in late 2023 and extended the moratorium in November 2024 pending zoning updates. On May 8 the township’s zoning resolution was updated to disallow adult‑use cannabis in West Chester, but staff advised an express emergency resolution to make the prohibition unambiguous in light of recent state legislation (House Bill 96) that, according to staff, permits the establishment of marijuana businesses in jurisdictions that do not have an explicit preexisting prohibition as of that law’s effective date.
Nut graf: trustees said the resolution is intended to preserve the township’s ability to bar retail adult‑use cannabis locally rather than leave the question to state rules; the resolution was adopted as an emergency measure and dispensed with a second reading.
In the discussion, staff told the board that the state’s revenue‑sharing model is changing — staff said local revenue share would be reduced and phased out under recently enacted legislation — a point several trustees criticized as reducing any local fiscal incentive to permit dispensaries. Trustee Phillips called the change “a money grab by Columbus” and expressed disappointment that the state had reduced local revenue potential after municipal actions implementing dispensaries.
The board voted by roll call to declare the resolution an emergency and then to adopt it; Trustees Wong, Welch and Becker recorded “yes” votes in the roll calls shown in the meeting minutes.
Ending: The emergency resolution establishes an explicit prohibition on retail adult‑use cannabis sales in West Chester Township. Staff noted the action does not preclude a future board from changing that policy; the resolution was adopted to ensure the prohibition is in place before the state law’s effective date described by staff.
