Council to revisit adult-use cannabis moratorium as state guidance remains incomplete

Plain City Council discussed whether to allow retail adult-use cannabis operations in the village, given a yearlong moratorium the village adopted last year and continuing uncertainty about how state revenue will be allocated.

Staff and council members said the village code currently references medical dispensaries only and does not explicitly address recreational retail. "Our code only says medical dispensaries. It does not clarify recreational dispensaries," a staff speaker said during the discussion. That gap means that, without additional local rules, recreational dispensaries could become an allowed use when the moratorium expires.

Council members and staff described three main options: adopt rules to allow recreational dispensaries and evaluate medical dispensaries later; forbid recreational dispensaries outright (as the village treats medical dispensaries); or extend the moratorium to allow time for clearer state guidance on revenue distributions and allowable municipal uses. Multiple council members expressed support for extending the moratorium until the state operating budget clarifies allocations, which staff said is expected to be active in fiscal year 2026. One councilmember summarized: "I would like to extend it until we know exactly what this is gonna be and how it can benefit us."

Council directed staff to place the issue on the next council agenda so members can consider an extension before the moratorium expires on Feb. 25. No ordinance or vote on the moratorium extension occurred at the meeting.

Ending — The item will return to the council for formal action; staff recommended waiting for additional state-level guidance before moving to finalize local rules.