Springboro, Ohio Plans to Permanently Ban Recreational Marijuana Businesses
Springboro, Ohio, is set to prohibit recreational marijuana businesses, following a temporary moratorium that was initially approved in December 2023. The city’s law director, Gerald McDonald, stated that the consensus among city officials is to treat recreational marijuana the same way as medical marijuana, which has been banned in the city for several years.
The temporary ban, which was set to expire in early October, has been extended until the end of the year. This decision allows the city to finalize a measure to permanently ban recreational marijuana businesses, including dispensaries, cultivation facilities, and processing facilities.
Ohio voters legalized recreational marijuana use in August, allowing adults 21 and older to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana in plant form or 15 grams in extract form, and to grow up to six marijuana plants per adult (capped at 12 plants per household).
Several other cities in Ohio, including Beavercreek, Carlisle, Centerville, Fairfield, Franklin, Hamilton, Kettering, Miamisburg, Monroe, Oakwood, Vandalia, Waynesville, and Xenia, have also passed temporary freezes on marijuana businesses. The permanent ban in Springboro is expected to be finalized next month.
According to McDonald, the city wants to ensure that it is prepared for any changes or hiccups that may arise before making a permanent decision. The city’s decision to ban recreational marijuana businesses is in line with its approach to medical marijuana, which has been prohibited in the city for several years.
