Painesville City considers moratoriums on new vaping, marijuana establishments – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

Painesville’s city administration has proposed six-month moratoriums on new electronic smoking and vapor retail establishments and new cannabis operations, citing a need to reevaluate zoning designations and regulations in the interests of public health and safety.

Both proposed ordinances are listed on the agenda for the Dec. 4 City Council meeting, and if approved, would prevent the approval of new vaping and cannabis businesses for six months. City staff are recommending that council pass both ordinances at that meeting, according to each item’s Dec. 4 city manager report.

Each moratorium “will provide time for staff to review the zoning designation and establish regulations as to the size, number and locations” of tobacco and cannabis businesses, the reports added. Staff will then propose policies to city council at the end of the moratorium period.

“While we are not trying to prohibit these establishments from opening in the city of Painesville, we are concerned about the number of establishments, as well as their size and location,” the reports stated.

The first moratorium would apply to “new establishments proposing to sell or otherwise distribute electronic smoking devices and/or vapor products” in the city. The city manager report mentioned “growing concerns regarding the public health implications” of those products, and stated that “studies have indicated potential health risk associated with vaping, particularly among younger…