Niles council enacts package allowing marihuana microbusinesses to transition to retail and extend hours

The Niles City Council on Jan. 27 enacted a trio of ordinances to change local marihuana business rules, allowing marihuana microbusinesses to convert to retail and grow licenses and setting retail hours at 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Ordinance 512 amended Ordinance 492 to allow microbusinesses to transition to retail and grow licenses. Ordinance 513 amended Ordinance 491 to permit the same transitions and to change marihuana retail hours to 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Ordinance 514 amended Ordinance 488 to change marihuana retail hours to the same schedule. Each measure was adopted by roll call vote with Councilmembers Timothy Rogers, Charlie McAfee, William Weimer, Jessica Nelson, Michael Thompson, Georgia Boggs and Gretchen Bertschy voting yea; Sheila Koebel was absent.

The enactments follow citizen remarks during the public comment period in which residents said the amended rules would benefit local businesses. Mike Noonan thanked the city for amending the marihuana ordinance, while William Haas said easing restrictions helped his business. The ordinances take effect under the schedule and procedures set by the city clerk’s office.

Council rules and the minutes record that the ordinances passed on second reading and were enacted at the Jan. 27 meeting; the clerk’s office will post the enacted ordinances and effective dates in accordance with municipal practice.