Ontario Wants Input from Ohio Company About Marijuana Grow Operation

MedMen, a name familiar in many states across the nation, wants to open a grow facility in Ontario. It would create 35 to 40 jobs with salaries ranging from $35k to $90k annually. MedMen approached other cities in the county but was turned down. It is hoping for better results in Ontario.

The public’s input is wanted by city officials, according to Mansfield News Journal. Two industrially zoned parcels of property are wanted for the medical marijuana grow. Mayor Randy Hutchinson and director of economic development at Richland Community Development Group, Barrett Thomas, held a conference call. Shelby Mayor Steve Schag also listened in. Both lawmakers listened to the proposal for the company’s plans to apply for a license.

MedMen is an out-of-state company with plans to expand nationwide. An Ohio-based company has already applied for one of the limited number of licenses the state will make available.

Hutchinson said, “If this would located here in Richland County, the plant they’re going to build would only be for cultivation.”

Hutchinson plans to request the presence of a company representative to speak at the next city council meeting on March 1.

Councilman Mark Weidemyre is interested in public reaction to medical marijuana cultivation taking place in their city as well.

Weidemyre said, “One million dollars worth of payroll – that’s a lot of payroll. And some good paying jobs.”

MedMen expects that its facility would payout roughly $1-million in payroll annually.

Weidemyre said, “It’s legal, that’s the bottom line. But it’s a touchy subject.”

Councilmember Larry Arnold said, “I think at minimum, when you get something like this, you have got to get feedback.”

Ontario’s moratorium on medical marijuana ends in March. The property wanted by MedMen is not near residential areas or schools. The mayor wants input from Ontario’s residents.