To the Editor:
I have been clear about my position on marijuana and intoxicating THC products: I do not believe they belong in our community. That is why Greenville took action to place a moratorium on marijuana dispensaries in our city.
Ohio voters chose to legalize recreational marijuana. I disagreed with that decision, but once legalization became law, the very least Ohioans should be able to expect is that the state will strictly enforce the rules it put in place.
Unfortunately, that does not appear to be happening.
State law places limits on the potency of marijuana products sold in Ohio. Yet recent allegations raised in court filings have called into question whether products exceeding those limits have been sold through licensed dispensaries and whether those restrictions are being adequately enforced.
That should concern everyone, regardless of how they voted on marijuana legalization.
Legalization was concerning enough. Legalization without meaningful enforcement is worse.
If the State of Ohio is going to permit the sale of marijuana and other intoxicating THC products, regulators have a responsibility to enforce the law consistently and aggressively. Rules governing potency, labeling, testing and sales cannot simply exist on paper. They have to mean something.
As Mayor, my first responsibility is to the people of Greenville. I remain convinced that allowing marijuana dispensaries into our city is not in the best interest of our families, our young people or our community. Greenville’s moratorium reflects that concern.
But local communities cannot address this problem alone. We need the State of Ohio to enforce the laws already on the books and hold those selling intoxicating products accountable when they violate them.
I did not support legalizing recreational marijuana. But if the state is going to legalize it, the state has an obligation to regulate it—and enforce those regulations.
Anything less makes a bad policy even worse.
Mayor Jeff Whitaker
City of Greenville
