Forest Park pumps the brakes on new recreational marijuana businesses

Forest Park is putting a pause on new adult-use marijuana businesses in the city.

On Monday, Forest Park City Council voted to declare a 180-day moratorium on issuing zoning certificates for adult use, aka recreational, marijuana dispensaries, cultivators, processors, testing facilities and other similar establishments.

That means the city won't be accepting any new applications from companies to alter zoning and open such businesses during that period. City Manager Don Jones said three applications had been submitted for medical cannabis dispensaries before the ordinance passed this week.

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But it's not because the city doesn't want the industry, Mayor Aharon Brown said. It's because new rules are pending before the Ohio Legislature awaiting approval. Those rules could make it harder – and less financially beneficial – for local governments to participate in the new recreational pot program.

For example, local governments would be in charge of setting zoning and locations of the businesses, but minimum distance requirements need to be clarified. Additionally, it's not clear how much tax revenue would go to municipalities and townships that host dispensaries.

The city is still in favor of the industry, Brown said. The 180-day pause will allow lawmakers to finalize those regulations.

Forest Park currently has one medical marijuana business already in operation, King City Gardens, which opened in November as the largest medical marijuana facility in Ohio. King City Gardens is a cultivator, meaning it grows marijuana plants.

What are Ohio lawmakers trying to change in recreational marijuana law?

The state's recreational program remains in limbo as consumers wait for sales to begin and wonder if lawmakers will change the rules approved by voters in November. Known on the ballot as Issue 2, the new law allows adults 21 and older to buy, consume and grow marijuana.

If nothing changes, operators expect to begin selling adult-use marijuana products around September or October.

When can I buy marijuana in Ohio?Here's where the new recreational program stands

The Division of Cannabis Control will make license applications available to marijuana growers, processors and dispensaries by June 7. The state has until Sept. 7 to issue the first round of licenses, which will go to existing medical marijuana businesses and eligible operators under the social equity program.

The Ohio Senate passed legislation in December that would allow medical marijuana dispensaries to sell adult-use products. The House has refused to take up the Senate bill, which would also increase taxes, lower the THC content cap for extracts and reduce the number of plants people can grow.

Lawmakers agree on several points, such as limiting children's exposure to advertising and clarifying rules around public smoking. But there is disagreement on limiting home grow and THC content, which some say would undermine the will of voters.

House Republicans also say many issues could be resolved through administrative rules.

Haley BeMiller contributed to this report