Valley leaders to meet Friday in Austintown to oppose marijuana tax funding cuts

Local leaders from Austintown, Girard, Warren, Struthers, Niles, and surrounding communities are expected to unite at a press conference this Friday to speak out against proposed changes to how marijuana tax revenue is shared with municipalities that host dispensaries.

Currently, communities are set to receive 36% of the 10% marijuana excise tax under the Host Community Cannabis Fund. But lawmakers in Columbus are considering multiple efforts—including a House bill, a Senate bill, and language in the state budget—that could reduce that share to 20%, cap it at just five years, or eliminate it entirely.

Austintown Trustee Robert Santos, who also serves as president of the Mahoning County Township Association, says the funding was a major reason many communities agreed to host dispensaries in the first place.

“We would not have allowed it if we were not going to receive it,” Santos said. “And several other communities would not have allowed it… if it wasn’t for that 36%.”

Santos added that Austintown recently placed a new police levy on the ballot. He believes promised revenue from marijuana sales could have helped avoid asking residents to shoulder that cost.

“This is a source that doesn’t touch residents' pockets,” he said, “and we’re going to fight to hold onto it.”

State Representative Lauren McNally said local leaders stepped up to support legalization under the belief that the tax revenue would return to their communities—not be redirected by the state.

“They knew that they were going to get this 30% tax revenue, and that was their reason for signing on to it,” McNally said. “So if you take that away, then they don’t have a reason to support it.”

McNally emphasized that the proposed changes—spread across multiple pieces of legislation—could have serious consequences for towns that now face increased demands on policing, infrastructure, and public services due to the influx of customers visiting dispensaries.

“We do the right things,” she added, “but then we don’t do the harmful things that are going to harm these local communities.”

The joint press conference is scheduled for Friday at the Austintown Township Hall. Local leaders say they will continue advocating at the Statehouse until their voices are heard and the funding promise is protected.