Council agrees to fast-track marijuana retailer hours change after business complaints

Warren City Council on April 28 directed staff to expedite an amendment to the city’s marijuana retail hours after council members said newly licensed retailers would be disadvantaged by an existing 8 p.m. closing time.

Council Secretary Mindy Moore said retailers who have spent money preparing to open need hours comparable to nearby municipalities. She proposed extending weekday closing times to 10 p.m. and allowing midnight hours Friday and Saturday. City staff and the city attorney said the hours change can be a quick fix while more complex ordinance issues—such as certificate-of-occupancy concerns, grandfathering and appeals—are addressed in a comprehensive amendment.

Council then voted to direct staff to prepare the narrow hours amendment for the next meeting and to follow up with a comprehensive ordinance within a month if possible. The motion carried with two recorded no votes on final passage of the motion to direct (Mr. Dwire and Mr. Nunan voted no on the final recorded action), but the council moved forward with the staff-directed change.

Why it matters: Council members said the change aims to prevent newly opened stores from starting “behind the eight ball” compared with stores in other jurisdictions that operate later, and to retain local sales tax revenue.

Next steps: City attorneys and the licensing staff will prepare the ordinance language to adjust hours at first reading and then incorporate other pending marijuana ordinance amendments in a follow-up package.