Powell City Council has passed a resolution to extend the city's moratorium on adult recreational use and medical marijuana businesses in the city until Dec. 31, 2027, or until zoning amendments for such operations are adopted.
In a unanimous vote at its Sept. 1 meeting, City Council again extended a moratorium that was initially enacted after the passage of Ohio State Issue 2, which legalized the commercial sale, recreational use and home cultivation of marijuana and established the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control.
The city's 12-month moratorium passed in June 2024, and another 12-month moratorium passed in July 2025, Powell spokesperson Anna Subler said. One more extension of the moratorium passed July 21, which was supposed to end Sept. 4.
The first moratorium was passed to provide the state with sufficient time to develop standards and procedures governing the sale, use and cultivation of marijuana, according to a resolution memo. Now, the city is requesting additional discussion and information regarding the regulation of adult-use and medical marijuana within Powell, including "the potential zoning regulations and guidelines that may apply to such uses," according to the memo.
The city recently approved a comprehensive zoning rewrite, which will take effect Sept. 4. The new code includes modernized zoning districts; new development standards for landscaping, parking and signage; and other procedural improvements, according to the city's website.
Pending legislation approved by city council amending the zoning code to establish regulations and guidelines for adult-use and medical marijuana uses, the latest moratorium extension will remain in effect until Dec. 31, 2027.
Dispatch Reporter Nora Igelnik can be reached at nigelnik@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Powell extends moratorium on marijuana dispensaries through 2027
