Richmond Heights City Council met on May 28 to discuss the current four-month moratorium on recreational cannabis.
Council members had some confusion on the implications that having a store within the city might have, although a previous City Council had approved a medical cannabis cultivator, processor, and storefront in 2016 which was ultimately not built due to financial funding problems.
Ultimately, legislation extending the moratorium, which is set to expire in mid-June was kept on first reading with a possible final vote to be considered at the next council meeting in June.
Council President Bobby Jordan told council members to look at their respective wards, in order to see how many churches, schools, and other businesses they have so the city can have a better understanding of where a potential cannabis retail outlet could be located.
Speaking on what council plans on doing if the moratorium is extended before it expires, Jordan said he wants council and the city’s legal experts, to look at the research that is available out there. He said he wants his fellow council members and the administration to talk with experts that know more about what legal marijuana could mean.
“We are going to do some research, we are going to see what’s going on in other communities,” Jordan said before the council meeting. “Are they having issues with growth as dispensaries or is it something that we can ease into so it’s not overwhelming.”
One concern he has is the number of dispensaries that could pop up. The public in previous meetings has indicated they are frustrated with the number of dollar stores and convenience shops that populate the city. Jordan said he wants to make sure the city doesn’t fall into that trap with dispensaries as well.
“We just don’t want to get overwhelmed because right now everyone knows that more people are going to come to Richmond Heights with the Belle Oaks (Marketplace) project,” Jordan said. “I just don’t want an overwhelming small business of dispensaries. We just want to have control.”
He said that the past four months nothing has been done when it comes to researching the subject that he is aware of. Now, he wants to tackle the issue so that he knows what’s best for the community in general.
“Really nothing, nothing at all,” Jordan said on what the council has done during the current moratorium. “That’s why I went over some of the legislation before I was here and thought this would be a good one to discuss.
“I’m not sure what I’m worried about, that’s why we need to do some research. I’m just kind of interested in grabbing it, digging into it and see what we find out. We want to talk to some dispensaries and cities and get an idea of what their feel is. There is nothing wrong with copying someone who is doing it the right way.”