Austintown trustees approve zoning change for marijuana dispensary

A marijuana dispensary is a step closer to opening in Austintown.

Trustees unanimously approved a zone change for the dispensary at the site of the former Knight's Inn hotel on 76 Drive near Interstate 80 and Route 46.

The dispensary will be operated by Leaf Relief and the business has already been granted a license by the State of Ohio to operate in the township.

"The moneys and revenues that will come in will benefit this community," trustee Bruce Shepas said. "We can earmark the money for example the parks, maybe some extra road work needs done and every year we can change it up."

In April, Austintown trustees originally approved a moratorium that would prohibit adult-use marijuana dispensaries.

Shepas told 21 News the reason for the change is that the moratorium was passed to give the township more time to assess the situation and wait for guidelines from the state on how to handle the dispensaries and how much tax revenue the township would get.

Once those guidelines came out, Shepas said the trustees were more comfortable with the issue.

Related coverage: Leaf Relief expanding to Austintown with recreational marijuana dispensary