CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio – Circleville City Council will hold a community forum later this month to gather public input on whether the city should allow a marijuana dispensary to open.
The forum is scheduled for Wednesday, October 23, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Circleville Library. Residents will have the opportunity to hear arguments on both sides and share their views with council members.
In November 2023, Ohio voters approved the legalization of recreational marijuana, with the law taking effect on August 6, 2024. But nearly immediately, dozens of municipalities across the state imposed temporary bans on cannabis businesses while awaiting state guidance.
Circleville passed its own moratorium on August 6, 2024, citing “citizen safety” and uncertainty over licensing rules. That moratorium was recently extended for another six months and is now set to expire in February 2026.
Council members say the October forum will help determine whether Circleville continues its ban or opens the door to regulated cannabis sales.
As of August 6, 2025, 138 Ohio municipalities or townships have enacted similar moratoriums, though they affect less than 15% of the state’s population.
Critics of local bans argue that blocking licensed cannabis businesses costs cities valuable tax revenue, hinders economic growth, and may drive consumers toward illegal or unregulated markets. On the other hand, some communities that embraced dispensaries have grown frustrated that tax revenue has been delayed due to gaps in the state’s legalization law.
With marijuana sales still one of Ohio’s most debated issues nearly two years after legalization, Circleville’s decision could have significant implications for the community.
