With the exception of city employees, North Canton residents can still possesses and use medical marijuana but they'll have to go outside city limits to acquire the substance.
NORTH CANTON City Council Monday adopted two pieces of legislation limiting medical marijuana.
Council adopted on emergency an ordinance that bans the growth, processing and sale of medical marijuana.
North Canton residents can still possesses and use medical marijuana when Ohio's program takes effect later this year, but they'll have to go outside city limits to acquire the substance.
The exception is city employees. Council also adopted on emergency an ordinance that bans those who work for the city from possessing, using or distributing medical marijuana. The ordinance places a restriction on the substance in the drug testing section of the employee handbook.
Ohio law gives employers the right to prevent employees from using medical marijuana, said Law Director Tim Fox.
Though many states are legalizing marijuana for medical or recreational purposes, it's still federally prohibited, said President of Council Jeff Peters.
The city will have to include the ban in its collective bargaining agreements.
The ban is a sticking point in negotiations between the city and the Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association — the union covering the city's law enforcement officers and dispatchers.
The city is holding collective bargaining with the city's full-time dispatchers and lead dispatcher. Monday, council voted to reject a fact-finders report that agreed with the union's position on the matter.
According to the report, the union stated that the proposal which calls for zero-tolerance policy was in conflict with the just cause principle. The union also stated that the use of medical marijuana should be determined by an employee's physician, not their employers.
Because it rejected the fact-finders report, Council also rejected a tentative agreement between the city and the Patrol Officer Bargaining Unit. The agreement stated that it would resolve the issue of the ban in the same manner as resolved in the dispatcher negotiations.
Emergency legislation can be adopted after a first reading instead of the requisite three readings.
Other Business
• Council adopted on emergency an ordinance modifying the list of intersections where drivers are prohibited from making a right turn at a red light.
• Adopted an ordinance granting a trail easement for a Stark Parks trail in the Washington Square area.
• Adopted an ordinance to receive bids of up to $250,000 for the Everhard Road and Whipple Avenue improvement project.
• Adopted on emergency an ordinance allowing the city to accept bids of up to $852,000 for the resurfacing, repaving, replacement, repair and preventative maintenance of certain city streets, alleys and parking lots.
• Adopted on emergency an ordinance to purchase a new ambulance and trade-in an older one.
• Heard from Director of Finance Laura Brown that city income tax collections in 2017 were up about $800,000 compared to 2015.