|
Listen to article
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
NORTH CENTRAL OHIO– One year after the statewide legalization of marijuana, over one hundred-twenty government jurisdictions are prohibiting the mind-altering drug. Based on a state report, North Central Ohio appears to be the ‘grassroots’ of the opposition movement to weed. One county sheriff believes faith leaders have played a pivotal role in convincing policy makers to ban commercial marijuana.
“The key for our county has been getting the clergy involved on the issue of substance abuse,” says Richland County Sheriff Steve Sheldon. “Our faith leaders are phenomenal. These prohibitions by local jurisdictions serve as a beach head to help minimize the supply of marijuana on the streets. With the churches’ advocacy, we have a great thing going.”
Richland County, Ohio has the most government jurisdictions prohibiting commercial cannabis according to the OSU Moritz College of Law Survey. As of January 14th 2025, Richland has a total of eighteen jurisdictions banning commercial weed with Hancock and Montgomery Counties tied for second most, with eleven. According to Chapter 3780.25 of the Ohio Revised Code, a 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 cannabis operators.”
The resolution recommended by the Ohio Township Association to prohibit marijuana has a North Central Ohio connection. Attorney Michael Donatini, of the Ashland County Prosecutor’s office, authored the draft resolution for townships. In his capacity, Donatini advises officers of the county’s fifteen townships. Presently Clear Creek, Milton, Mohican, Montgomery, and Troy Townships have passed resolutions with Donatini’s guidance.
In addition to Ashland’s townships, Richland County has thirteen townships, and nearby Morrow County prohibits commercial marijuana in Canaan, Franklin, and Harmony Townships.
“The key for our county has been getting the clergy involved on the issue of substance abuse. Our faith leaders are phenomenal. These prohibitions by local jurisdictions serve as a beach head to help minimize the supply of marijuana on the streets. With the churches’ advocacy, we have a great thing going.”
Richland County Sheriff Steve Sheldon
Before the Fall 2023 general election, over one-hundred-forty lead clergymen representing twenty counties publicly opposed legalizing marijuana at a press conference in Mansfield. But their opposition did not end there.
Clergy at public hearings raised concerns over morality and presented additional pitfalls of pot. In Madison Township, clergy provided a study revealing social costs outweighed tax revenue generated from marijuana. In Shelby, other faith leaders warned marijuana would circumvent a skilled workforce development and increase job absenteeism. In Bellville, clergy asserted dispensaries selling a drug associated with mental illness would undermine the school district’s drug testing program.
Last November, Ontario City Council heeded clergy’s recommendations and voted unanimously to prohibit commercial marijuana. Local clergy disclosed that Ohio Poison Centers reported accidental marijuana exposures are more than five times what they were five years ago in children ages 5 years old and under. Faith leaders also brought a local crime report on marijuana.
According to the criminal justice report, local incidents involving mind-altering marijuana demonstrated an association to psychosis and criminal behavior, endangering both public health and safety. While some say cannabis is good for business and good for the city, the report summarized two incidents where businesses and even city hall were threatened. In 2020, a Mansfield resident charged with possession of marijuana threatened to start a riot and launch 3 attacks on Mansfield stores. In 2009, a man with pending marijuana charges fire-bombed Mansfield City Hall causing $800,000 in damages. Incidents of local car chases, police stand-offs, and mass shootings were also provided to council members.
At this time, it is not known what position the new Trump Administration will take regarding the re-classification of marijuana. The Drug Enforcement Administration announced early 2024 it would act on Joe Biden’s call to reclassify marijuana, moving it from the tightly-controlled Schedule I category that it has been since 1970, to the less-restrictive Schedule III category. After the Secret Service’s investigation of cocaine discovered inside the White House found no suspects, the White House’s passivity on illicit drugs has been evident.
According to Sheldon, he hopes new Presidential Administration will change the direction of criminal justice has been going. “Having run the county jail for over twenty years, I see first-hand how marijuana plays out in peoples’ lives. We have a society based on the rule of law. When societies lower standards, personal accountability ceases to exist. As Sheriff, it is my hope marijuana remains a Schedule I drug.”
The Bottom Line:
The Bible says in Proverbs 16, “Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.”
View CBN News video discussing marijuana’s connection to psychotic behavior and the uncertain status of marijuana reclassification. (Duration 7min.)
Related articles:
