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BUTLER — This week the Village of Butler was center stage over the marijuana debate in Clear Fork Valley. The local school board met at the elementary school to address the issue. And the Bellville Mayor, swallowing her pride, scheduled a public forum at nearby Butler Village Hall to discuss a proposed Bellville weed dispensary. As the public has had time to study the issue, opposition to cannabis appears to be at its peak in the Clear Fork Valley.
From morality, to quality of life, to school safety, and road safety, concerns were brought up about the dangers of marijuana in Thursday’s public forum. County Commissioner Darrell Banks said he believes a dispensary will harm fundraising efforts for an adjacent YMCA sports facility. Several businessmen believe the social reputation of the Village will suffer. And with school officials now joining law enforcement and faith leaders, cannabis opposition is front and center.
Mayor Teri Brenkus, the key proponent of bringing commercial cannabis to Bellville, could not find a host inside the Village for the forum. This week, Brenkus has been on the hot seat. Prior to the start of the forum, informational handouts on the recall election process to remove municipal officials from office were circulated by citizens. Sixty-percent of Bellville residents voted against legalizing marijuana in the November general election. Village Council also voted 5-1 on January 9th to pass a six-month moratorium preventing commercial cannabis companies from doing business in Bellville.
Earlier this week, Brenkus was formally asked to resign by Village Council for “reasons of moral misconduct and appearance of impropriety.” In addition, Village Administrator Larry Weirich, another supporter of cannabis, was placed on administrative leave effective immediately due to allegations related specifically to “immoral conduct as it relates to discipline and grievances.” Both measures passed by unanimous 6-0 votes. Weirich is the Richland County Democrat Party Chairperson.
On the same night Bellville Village Council made the emergency legislation on Tuesday, the Clear Fork School Board passed a non-binding resolution. Passed by a unanimous 5-0 vote, the statement said, “The Board Members of the Clear Fork Valley Local School District have resolved that it is in our students’ best interests to support the prohibition if any business in the boundaries of our school district that cultivates, processes, or retails marijuana. We believe that by supporting this prohibition, we are preserving and protecting our community’s exemplary quality of life and the health and safety of our students.”
After the passage of the school board resolution, High School Principal Brian Brown said the drug-testing program was “the best thing we did in my thirty-two years here in the district.” In 2014, Clear Fork schools implemented a random drug testing protocol for student motorists and students in extra-curricular activities.
Since the announcement of a proposed marijuana dispensary in Bellville, three area municipalities and six townships have passed legislation prohibiting commercial cannabis in their jurisdictions.
During the forum, several supporters of the dispensary alluded to perceived medical benefits provided by the drug. Reputable healthcare providers presently do not provide ‘medical marijuana,’ thus the demand for the state-licensed dispensaries. In 2019, the Cleveland Clinic released a statement saying, “To be clear, there is a difference between medications and ‘medical marijuana’ in the popular sense of the term…. At Cleveland Clinic, we believe there are better alternatives.”
Standard Wellness CEO Jared Maloof also attended the forum. The CEO promises to bring $360,000 in revenue toward Bellville if approved, and generate $10 million in revenue annually. Maloof stated that he does not use marijuana. He also stated that there have been no police reports taken out on dispensaries he owns (Sandusky OH, Springfield OH, cultivation facilities in Gibsonburg OH, & Corrine Utah). “We improve property values and bring stability to communities we are located in,” Maloof said.
Some would disagree with CEO Jared Maloof’s statements about his compliance with the law. Maloof testified to an Ohio Senate Committee on March 7, 2023 suggesting Ohio “Put a stop to hemp-derived Delta 8 and other related cannabinoid sales in the state.” Maloof asserted that “The status quo is children can purchase THC at their local gas station and parents across this state have no idea that it is happening.” While it is illegal to sell or possess Delta 8 products in the State of Utah, according to the Utah Bee, “Standard Wellness has been making Delta-8 based products available for patients since the opening of their dispensary.”
Not to mention, in the same testimony Jared Maloof admitted that ‘medical’ marijuana operators in Ohio were “deciding in droves to sell legally-produced marijuana into the illegal market.” In other words, state-licensed marijuana dispensaries are operating as criminal enterprises.
One of the citizens for public comment questions if Standard Wellness can be a good neighbor and community partner. Benjamin Mutti thinks these issues should be considered red flags to Village Council. “This company is saying one thing and doing another,” Mutti said. “The Cannabis Industry authored the rules now included in the Ohio Revised Code. The text of these rules acknowledges the fact that addictive marijuana will bring more substance abuse, bring more impaired motorists, bring more access to the hallucinogen by children, and bring more mental health harm. Because of the negative baggage cannabis brings, the consensus should be to ban commercial cannabis development altogether.
The Bottom Line:
The Bible says in Mark Eight, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
View the slideshow of the March 21st public forum regarding a marijuana dispensary proposed at the SR 97/I-71 interchange in Bellville. The forum took place at Butler Village Hall.
Speaking as Bellville citizen, county official and former Mayor, Darrell Banks commented, “We should not put this pot shop across the highway from the YMCA soccer facility. It will adversely impact fundraising for this $22 million facility. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Bellville resident & CASA Volunteer with the Juvenile Court, Frederick Sites, commented that 16 of the 17 children he works with have parents abusing drugs. He said all 16 cases had cannabis as one of the drugs they were abusing. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Clear Fork Valley School Board President, Brian Johnson commented that “We should all agree that we need to protect our children.” (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Chart presented during forum based on U.S. Secret Service analysis of targeted school violence. (Photo courtesy of Benjamin Mutti) 
Over one hundred-forty people attended a public forum on a marijuana dispensary proposed by Standard Wellness to be located in Bellville. The forum was held at Butler Village Hall on Thursday, March 21st. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Bellville businessman Don VanMeter, the Wishmaker House Bed & Breakfast owner, commented that Bellville officials tried to sneak the dispensary in. He said “Cannabis is not good for our community.” (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Standard Wellness CEO Jared Maloof commented that his marijuana dispensaries bring stability and high property values to the neighborhood. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Speaking as Bellville citizen, county official Steve McKinley commented, “The use of recreational marijuana is almost always associated with human failure. Americans medicate more, work less, and yet have more depression. Without GOD, there is no fulfillment. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Bellville businessman Steve Haring, the owner of Valley View Development, commented that a dispensary will bring crime issues and more juvenile users. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Chart presented during forum, based on 2023 Ohio Senate Testimony by Jared Maloof. (Photo courtesy of Benjamin Mutti) 
CEO Jared Maloof’s Standard Wellness, was sued by the State of Ohio in 2022 for not providing records when compelled to do so by state regulators. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Associate Pastor & Bellville Resident Mike Stine commented that sixty-percent of the Bellville citizens already voted in November to oppose legalizing cannabis. He said, “We need to stand our ground and love everybody.” (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) On January 9th, at the admonition of local faith leaders, Bellville Village Council voted 5-1 for a six-month moratorium prohibiting marijuana businesses. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) Chart presented during forum; based on OVI data from Sandusky City Police Department. (Photo courtesy of Benjamin Mutti) Over one hundred-forty people attended a public forum on a marijuana dispensary proposed by Standard Wellness to be located in Bellville. The forum was held at Butler Village Hall on Thursday, March 21st. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
On March 18th, Clear Fork Valley School Board unanimously approved non-binding resolution calling for prohibition of commercial cannabis in the school district. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
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