Rumor Check: Will New Boston Welcome Marijuana Sales?
Word on social media is that the Village of New Boston is looking to welcome a medical marijuana dispensary.
Medical marijuana has been legal in Ohio since it was approved by the Republican-dominated legislature and signed into law by then-Governor John Kasich back in 2016.
Under that law, doctors can suggest marijuana as a treatment for multiple medical conditions including:
- Chronic or severe pain
- Cancer
- Traumatic brain injury
- Parkinsons
- PTSD
- Ulcerative colitis
- CTE
- Aids
- ALS
- Alzheimer’s
- Seizures
- Fibromyalgia
- Tourette’s
- IBS
- Glaucoma
- Sickle cell anemia
- Crohn’s
To qualify to use medical marijuana, you must be examined in person by a state-approved physician. The doctor then submits paperwork to the state and the state approves the patient for the medical marijuana registry.
Pot can only be legally purchased from licensed dispensaries. Locations of dispensaries must be approved by the state board of pharmacy.
So, is a medical marijuana dispensary coming to New Boston?
SCDN checked in with Villiage Council Member Jon Mills to find out what’s really going on. According to Mills, “ We’re bringing in a resolution at the next meeting to be voted on to not block any dispensary that would try to come into the Village.”
So, while the village doesn’t seem to have a dispensary lined up, they are voting to say that they wouldn’t object if one decided to set up shop.
There are currently 58 licensed medical marijuana dispensaries in Ohio. The closest to Scioto County is Buckeye Botanicals in Jackson County. There are six dispensaries in the Columbus area and one in Athens County.
There’s a current push to legalize recreational marijuana use for adults in the state next year. Back in August, the state certified a petition to support legalization. Supporters must collect 133,000 signatures from voters before the next legislative session starts in 2022. If lawmakers approve the measure, it will then head to the ballot.
The next New Boston Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 19.