Portsmouth proposing its own recreational marijuana restrictions

PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (WCHS) — Ohio leaders are currently deciding the rules and regulations for recreational marijuana use, but part of the passed legislation includes room for municipalities to have their own regulations.

The proposal in Portsmouth is one dispensary for up to 10,000 people in population. The population of Portsmouth is more than 18,000, meaning the city would have only two recreational marijuana dispensaries.

"I'm suggesting we have something like a liquor license program where for dispensaries one for every 10,000 people in a city, and we would encourage other municipalities to pass similar legislation," Portsmouth City Councilman Sean Dunne said.

He's hoping his idea will get statewide approval by other Ohio cities.

"I think to appease certain concerns we make it something that is stricter than a liquor license or one for every 10,000 and we take a more sensible approach to it," Dunne said.

Those in the marijuana industry, however, say the proposal would be much more restrictive than a liquor license.

"In the city of Portsmouth there is definitely more than two bars, so there is definitely more than one liquor license for every 10,000 people," said Laura Adkins, general manager of Backroad Wellness, a medical marijuana dispensary in New Boston.

She cautiously supports limiting the number of recreational marijuana licenses, even though she said they get calls daily asking when they will have recreational marijuana.

"There has to be enough to be able to provide for the people so that we aren't feeding into the black market," Adkins said.

The ballot language during the vote gave municipalities the power to decide how to allow or not allow dispensaries. While some can even prohibit recreational marijuana dispensaries, Dunne said Portsmouth leaders are just limiting the number.

"I think this is a compromise middle ground that will draw in a lot of people and be comfortable with it," Dunne said.

As the proposal makes its way through city council, it will be a couple months until council decides whether the proposal becomes a reality.