Interim Administrator Larry Fronk told the trustees Tuesday the staff did an exhaustive study on the impact medical marijuana could have on the community. As far as a revenue generator, Fronk said it would be insignificant. Any cultivating operations would be taxed as commercial greenhouses and the only one of those currently in the township raises only about $4,000 in property taxes.

He said retail establishments would likely end up renting in strip malls, so no revenue for the township there, because sales tax can only be collected by the county. One of the more significant impacts he mentioned was a negative one.

“By permitting medical marijuana in West Chester Twp. how susceptible does the township then become should the state of Ohio, at some point in the future, permit recreational marijuana,” Fronk said. “Well you’ve certainly started down the slippery slope if we go in that direction.”

Fronk said they would be opening a door that would be hard to close. Other communities, like Liberty Twp. have also raised this concern. Liberty’s Director of Planning and Zoning Bryan Behrmann told his trustees if they decide to craft their own regulations he isn’t certain how those restrictions might translate if the state ever allows recreational weed, because they are both marijuana.

“Right now it’s medical marijuana, it could change at some point down the road to recreational,” he said. “I don’t know if you can draw that line between the two and allow one and not the other.”

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Fronk said he and the staff recommend banning the new industry. By approving the measure this week, he said after a number of public hearings, it would become law in January.

Trustee Lee Wong agreed allowing the drugs — that are illegal under federal law — isn’t advisable.

“There is lots of social problems, crimes, there could be OVI, people under the influence driving,” Wong said. “I don’t think that’s very good for our township.”

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