As central Ohio cities ban marijuana businesses, Reynoldsburg aims to welcome dispensary
As other central Ohio communities are prohibiting cannabis-based businesses from their communities, a marijuana dispensary is in the works for Reynoldsburg.
The city's planning and zoning board approved a conditional use and variance earlier this month for Certified Cultivators to operate a marijuana dispensary at 7365-7369 E. Livingston Ave.
It would be the Columbus suburb's first marijuana dispensary and Certified Cultivators' first dispensary in central Ohio. The company has a processing plant in Dayton and a dispensary in Cleveland.
Reynoldsburg Mayor Joe Begeny said city residents have been asking for a dispensary for years. He said there wasn't an opportunity for a medical dispensary, based on the limited number of licenses available. But when the city redid its zoning code in 2020, it allowed for medical marijuana dispensaries. Ahead of the Ohio Issue 2 vote in November, the city preemptively updated the code to allow for adult-use dispensaries.
"From a Reynoldsburg-only perspective, 64% of the community of Reynoldsburg voted in favor of Issue 2, and so that has definitely been something that the community has been looking at for somewhere in Reynoldsburg, depending upon the location, of course," Begeny said.
Nearby Etna Township, Pataskala, and New Albany have all banned marijuana cultivation, processing and retail dispensing within their communities.
Reynoldsburg's zoning code states that marijuana businesses are not allowed within 500 feet of another marijuana facility or within 500 feet of a park, residential district or school. The state prohibits dispensaries from being located within 500 feet of a school, church, public library, public playground or public park.
Because of those regulations, Begeny said city officials believe this will likely be the only dispensary in the city. However, he added city officials believe another dispensary will be located just outside the city, on the Columbus part of Main Street.
Begeny said the dispensary will still need administrative approvals before it can open. He said the existing building will also be renovated. He added the dispensary will likely open early next year.
The dispensary needed a variance because it is 420 feet from a residential district to the south, according to city documents.
Zach Weprin, president of Certified Cultivators, said during the Sept. 5 meeting that the dispensary will be monitored 24/7/365 by security cameras. All the products come prepackaged, and there is no onsite consumption.
"We're committed to keeping a safe and clean, well-run facility that contributes to the positive impact of businesses we have in the community," Weprin said.
Scott Miller, Certified Cultivators' chief compliance officer and general counsel, said the product is stored in a vault. The shop also won't allow just anyone to come in. When people walk in, they'll go to a reception area to check in. They then must provide identification to prove they are 21 or present their patient card if they are under 21.
Medical marijuana became legal in Ohio in 2016, and Ohio voters approved the legalization of recreational marijuana for those 21 and older 57-43% last November. Recreational sales started at existing dispensaries on Aug. 6.
mdevito@dispatch.com
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Reynoldsburg aims to welcome marijuana dispensary
