Ashland & Lexington exercise local control, both ban recreational marijuana (VIDEO)

NORTH CENTRAL OHIO — This year the pothole season came early for many communities as they deal with the aftermath of the November elections. Despite drug overdoses being the leading cause of injury death in Ohio since 2007, Ohioans voted to legalize marijuana for ‘recreational purposes.’ Last year over one hundred faith leaders promoted a “Believe Local” campaign encouraging communities to follow traditional family values and not to conform to “California values.” Some communities are now exercising local control in order to avoid becoming like the Wild West.

The new Ohio law states the “legislative authority of a municipal corporation may adopt an ordinance, or a board of township trustees may adopt a resolution, by majority vote to prohibit, or limit the number of adult use cannabis operators permitted under this chapter within the municipal corporation or within the unincorporated territory of the township, respectively.”

On January 2nd, Ashland City Council passed emergency legislation to prohibit commercial ‘recreational’ marijuana. Council members agreed by a unanimous 5-0 vote to prohibit adult-use cannabis operators in the city limits ‘to protect the health, safety, welfare, comfort and peace of the citizens.’ The measure is similar to previous legislation passed by Council banning commercial cultivation, processing and dispensing of marijuana for ‘medical’ purposes.

Ashland Mayor Matt Miller added that consuming marijuana on city-owned property is prohibited as well. “In other words, you cannot smoke it at a picnic pavilion, the playground or at the golf course or any of our publicly-owned properties in the City of Ashland,” he said. Violations of the new ordinance could result in a first-degree misdemeanor charge, according to the ordinance.

“When we see other states that have legalized cannabis ten years ago grappling with the documented overdoses and adverse impacts of legalized cannabis, it is baffling why Ohio would decide to follow and jump off the cliff with these visionless states,” says Ashland Pastor John Bouquet. “We need to take back our communities from this Issue 2 debacle. I am proud that our elected officials in Ashland are statesmen with vision who can see down the road. Surrounding townships will be following the lead of our Mayor and City Council. Our state will not be able to handle the onslaught from the black market that is coming. It will be like playing with fire.”

In 2011, the communities of Mansfield, Ontario and Lexington all banned bath salts/synthetic marijuana after a spike in emergency room visits and a multitude of overdoses. At the time, the METRICH Commander even encouraged residents to confront storeowners who sold the products. Possessing and selling the drug, which were designed to imitate cannabis, was made a crime punishable by jail and/or fine. Bath salts have chemical components of marijuana that can cause seizures, hallucinations, and extreme paranoia. After actions by local communities, the State of Ohio followed with a statewide ban.

With THC levels capped at 90% for extracts in Ohio’s new law, elected officials backed by faith leaders believe marijuana will have disastrous consequences on youth and form a new crop of addicts. Marketing tactics in the cannabis industry use catchy names replicating the names of well-known commercial food products. For example, the brand recognition of “Pop-Tarts,” a widely consumed kid-friendly breakfast product, was seized upon by one marijuana producer to market “Pot Tarts.” Unfortunately, these products are thought to be contributing to the increased accidental marijuana exposures among children and others.

Medical health experts say the human brain continues to develop until approximately the age of 25, and regular marijuana use during adolescence and up to this age can change the way the brain functions in adulthood, risking impacts to academic performance, IQ, and behavior. Kids under age six exposed to cannabis after accidentally ingesting an edible is skyrocketing. Calls to poison control centers grew from 207 cases in 2017, to 3,054 cases in 2021, a growth that mirrors the expansion of legalized recreational marijuana.

Based on marijuana’s negative impact on youth, Lexington passed its own ordinance on January 16th. Councilman Adam Gongwer made a motion to pass emergency legislation prohibiting ‘recreational’ marijuana; the motion passed 4-0-1. (Aaron Hoptry abstained) Lexington also prohibits commercial ‘medical’ marijuana businesses.

Lexington Pastor Mark Meyer is thankful for Lexington Village Council’s intervention. “I am grateful for Village Council’s vote. Each community has to do what it thinks is in its best interests. This is about making our community a better place for the next generation. Knowing my life’s experiences before Christ and now how my life is with Christ, I can definitely say marijuana is a gateway for other harmful addictions. The Bible clearly says we are to be free and to avoid being under the influence of wine (or other intoxicating substances) because it is like a snake with poison in its fangs. Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind will be confused.”

Ashland and Lexington join other communities like North Olmsted who also have banned commercial marijuana operators from conducting business their cities.

Pastor Bouquet adds, “If the Church would speak to the issue, if they would guard their spiritual jurisdictions, then we can protect the next generation from entering the drug world. Marijuana is a gateway drug which is deceiving the hearts and minds of our youth.”

The Bottom Line:

The Bible says in Proverbs Sixteen, “The highway of the upright turns aside from evil. Whoever guards his way preserves his life.”

View video produced by CBN News about nineteen-year-old from Colorado who experienced addiction and mental illness after consuming cannabis from legal market. (8 min.)

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