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Council reintroduces cannabis prohibition ordinance amid sharply divided council; public hearing scheduled July 8
Summary
Ordinance No. 80‑2025, which would prohibit adult‑use cannabis operators and medical marijuana entities in Richmond Heights, was reintroduced for a first reading and a July 8 public hearing after contested debate over previous votes and the city's authority under pending state law changes.
Richmond Heights City Council reintroduced Ordinance No. 80‑2025 on first reading Tuesday, a measure that would add a definition for adult‑use cannabis operators to the planning and zoning code and ban adult‑use and medical marijuana entities in specified parts of the city. The council scheduled a public hearing on the ordinance for July 8.
Todd, the city attorney, explained the ordinance is essentially the same measure that was considered earlier this year and that council members had previously voted on; he said the planning commission reviewed the measure and it was returned to council. Todd also warned that pending state legislation could change municipal authority over cannabis regulation: "the state of Ohio has 3 pending pieces of legislation on cannabis businesses," he said, and the bills could affect whether municipalities retain the power to prohibit or regulate dispensaries.
Todd told council, "this is our opportunity to control our future in Richmond Heights when it comes to recreational ... dispensaries," saying if council does not act the state could later authorize locations inside the B‑3 district staff identified near the airport. Several councilmembers reacted strongly to the reintroduction, arguing the item had already been debated and that misinformation had been provided about what a prior vote meant. One councilmember said the matter had been decided previously and urged that council respect the earlier majority vote; other members said additional councilmembers were absent for the prior vote and that new information warranted another hearing.
Council voted to hold Ordinance No. 80‑2025 at first reading and to schedule a public hearing on July 8. At the meeting Todd confirmed the reintroduced ordinance contains "identical language" to the prior version. The scheduled July 8 hearing will allow public comment before any final council action.
Why it matters: the ordinance would affect whether recreational or medical cannabis businesses can locate in the city, and several councilmembers and local businesses were cited as stakeholders in the discussion. The city attorney warned that changes in pending state law could remove some local control if Richmond Heights does not adopt local regulations in time.
