LIMA — Lima City Council’s Safety Services Committee approved a motion to extend the six-month moratorium on the cultivation, processing and dispensing of medical marijuana Wednesday night after hearing testimonials from local residents who advocated for and against the measure.
The committee, which is made up of Lima City Council members Todd Gordon, Ann Miles and Derry Glenn, voted unanimously to extend the moratorium to March. Council members stated they wanted to wait for more stability on the state level, and there was a continued debate on whether to bring the issue to a public vote.
Before voting to extend the moratorium, the committee heard from eight people who were mostly split on whether to allow medical marijuana to be sold within city limits. Three people voiced their approval of medical marijuana, two were adamantly opposed and three more indicated concerns about the drug being sold in the city without expressly denouncing it.
Dr. Suman Mishr, an endocrinologist who lives in Shawnee Township and practices in Cridersville, stated he was against the “liberalized use of marijuana.”
“This is the last thing we need in Lima,” Mishr said.
Mishr openly stated that he has prescribed medical marijuana in the past, but he added that it was for a patient in a nursing home whose medication was strictly controlled by officials at her residence.
He said his biggest concern was the “lack of motivation” marijuana causes, which could lead to people being content to sit at home and not find a job. He also opposed bringing the issue to a public vote, saying that the issue should be decided based on science, and not from people who aren’t informed.
Lima resident Taylor Harris, who is in favor of allowing medical marijuana, spoke about how cannabis has helped combat her disability, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.
She said cannabis is the ideal medicine for patients with real conditions such as hers. In 2009, she was 83 pounds, unable to hold her head up or lift her legs to walk. She was looking at a future where she could only survive on a feeding tube.
In place of cannabis, she was prescribed a minimum of 1,500 pills a year, which equated to more than $10,000 a year in prescription expenses. Along with the financial burden, she said the narcotics pushed her closer to organ failure.
By using medical cannabis, Harris said she was able to significantly reduce her medical expenses, and is now at a more healthy weight of 93 pounds, along with living a more active life.
“Thanks to medical marijuana, I stand before you now,” Harris said. “I’m living an active and fulfilled life.”
Dr. Nicole Nelson, medical director of the Radiology Department and Women’s Wellness Center at St. Rita’s Medical Center, said medical marijuana is “not appropriate for this community.”
She said she is concerned about the health of the population, and said there is no way of knowing if medical marijuana will be sold to those who are not prescribed. She also noted that the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pain Medicine are against allowing medical marijuana.
“This [medical marijuana] might be OK for the state of Ohio, but it is not OK for my community,” Nelson said.
Lima resident Brook Hall said he is for medical marijuana in Lima because it would increase tax revenue, create jobs, reduce crime at best and have no effect on crime at worst, allow police officers to focus on more important issues, reduce the inmate population and help those who would benefit from the medicine, specifically cancer patients.
“It’s a wonder drug for cancer patients,” he said.
Donna Dickman, director of Partnership for Violence Free Families, was concerned that medical marijuana dispensaries would be placed near where drug addicts are seeking treatment.
“We’ll be watching to make sure this doesn’t happen,” Dickman said.
However, state guidelines on medical marijuana state that dispensaries are not allowed within 500 feet of drug treatment centers, schools, churches, day cares and other facilities that house children or those seeking drug treatment.
After hearing from the public, councilors Miles and Glenn provided their opinions on the matter. Glenn said he has heard from both sides of the argument, which led him to advocate for a public vote.
“Let the people make the decision,” Glenn said.
Miles said her decision is based on the “impact on the city as a whole.” She acknowledged that certain groups will benefit from medical marijuana, but she added that the council “cannot focus of a small group of people.”
“Even though there are many controls and regulations in place, there will be unintended consequences that are bad,” Miles said. “I believe things will go awry and get out of control.”
The issue could be put on the May ballot via petition or by order of city council, though it is still unclear who will make the final decision.
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