Perrysburg Council holds first reading on three marijuana ordinances after hours of public comment

Perrysburg City Council held a first reading of three ordinances that would change the city’s medical and adult-use marijuana rules and zoning, drawing sustained public comment on both sides of the issue.

Council designated Ordinances 9, 10 and 11 as first readings only; council members said the items will return for further consideration and a possible vote at the April 1 meeting. Law director staff explained the ordinances are being read again because required title readings were missed at prior meetings.

The ordinances under consideration include an amendment to an existing medical-marijuana provision, a land‑use/zoning amendment and an addition to the codified ordinances to create local rules for medical and adult‑use cannabis retail operations. The text as read in the meeting identified the measures as: Ordinance 9‑20‑25 (amending codified ordinance for medical marijuana), Ordinance 10‑20‑25 (amending the land‑use zoning table) and Ordinance 11‑20‑25 (adding a new codified section for medical/adult use cannabis).

Dozens of residents addressed council during the public comment period. Many speakers said a dispensary would harm community safety and youth. Student speaker Sylvia Bauer said, “Voting to have a dispensary in Perrysburg goes against everything that we have learned about drugs and sends a very confusing message to our youth.” Longtime residents and former police officers recounted enforcement experience and cited studies they said show increased hospitalizations and traffic incidents in states after legalization.

Other speakers framed their opposition around community character and traffic safety. One resident who visited an operating dispensary described seeing customers using cannabis in cars in the dispensary parking lot, and said that observation reinforced concerns about impaired driving.

Several residents also questioned the financial incentive sometimes tied to allowing dispensaries: speakers referenced a “host community fund” described in published summaries of state law and said the fund’s future and reliability are uncertain.

Supporters and patients also spoke. At least one resident and council member voiced support specifically for medical cannabis access. A council member said they would “advocate for medical marijuana to be able to be dispensed in our town,” and framed that vote as permitting patients legitimate, regulated access rather than relying on mail order or informal channels. A proponent also described medical uses — including for epilepsy and multiple sclerosis — and said local access is important for some patients.

Council President and the law director emphasized that the council scheduled the items for a first reading in order to allow a broad public discussion and to collect input before any votes. No vote on the ordinances was taken tonight; council set a timeline that would permit a vote at the April 1 meeting if council chooses to waive additional readings.

The debate included repeated references to the November state vote that decriminalized adult use at the state level; council members noted that the state referendum result does not automatically require Perrysburg to allow retail dispensaries. Several speakers referenced national and state research studies by name during their remarks; council members said they would continue to review legal and enforcement implications before voting.

What’s next: the ordinance texts remain under first reading. Council members invited additional public input; a formal vote has not been scheduled beyond the planned April 1 meeting where council said it may consider waiving readings and voting.