A recent zoning code change kept a marijuana dispensary out of Strasburg.

Council in May enacted a village-wide ban on marijuana-related businesses, which were previously allowed in non-residential areas with permission from the planning commission.

Zoning inspector Ted Foster requested the change, which he says is already having the desired effect as he was contacted last month by a representative from a nationwide cannabis company about opening a dispensary in the village and let them know they would have to look elsewhere.  

Councilman Dustin Briggs is in favor of reverting to the previous policy for the additional revenue.             

“Take the truck parking lot beside Hardee’s, that’s township so you could build a dispensary right there and you get nothing from it. It’s here, it’s in the area, and I hate the village, who needs the tax money, not get it.”

Thirty-six percent of the excise tax collected on non-medical marijuana sales in Ohio is supposed to go into a fund to be distributed to communities hosting a dispensary. That’s on top of any local sales and income taxes.

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