Janesville law may regulate THC sales

For around 20 minutes during Janesville’s city council meeting Monday, Feb. 13, all five council members and city attorney Jason Moran went through the first draft of an ordinance to regulate THC sales within the city.

One section which proposed that up to six businesses at any time could be granted a THC license was the source of energetic discussion. 

Melissa Kopachek was the first council member to question the limit. Mayor Andy Arnoldt then chimed in, asking for Moran’s opinion as to whether the six-license limit is appropriate for a town Janesville’s size.

Instead of answering the question directly, Moran responded with, “Here’s the thing. Marijuana is going to be legal. It’s coming. There are many bills that are halfway through the state legislature right now. What you’re doing here tonight might be irrelevant in the next six to eighteen months.”

Kopachek argued that the council did not choose to wait for the state to impose a ruling last summer, when it decided to impose the current short-term ban. “I don’t understand why the moratorium was even a thing.”

Moran retorted that he felt the moratorium was a good thing, and many first responders would share his opinion.

When she further questioned why he suggested that making a city ordinance on THC sales was pointless, Moran pointed out the items in the draft of the city’s ordinance that differ from what the state’s considering.

“Right now, they are debating not allowing vendors to sell within a thousand feet of a park or church,” he pointed out. “If you take those parameters and draw them out, there aren’t many places in Janesville you can sell THC. Our ordinance says you can’t sell within 500 feet of a park or church.”

He added that, however the council decided to go about licensing, the current bill receiving attention would “take the ability to regulate it” out of the council’s hands. “The state will set the fee and other parameters.”

“We look like we have mud on our face,” Kopachek told the council.

After a moment of silence, City Administrator Clinton Rogers stepped in and supported Moran’s position, pointing out the city’s proposal to require background checks on THC vendors as another major part of the ordinance that could change because of the state. “I researched the heck out of this,” he claimed.

“I just don’t understand the intense pushback,” Kopachek replied.

Moran tried to relate to Kopachek’s position about legalizing THC sooner rather than later in Janesville. “I actually think it should be legal,” he said. “Whatever you want to put in your body, that’s your choice. You have to follow state law, though.”

City council member Andy Ahlman chimed in. “If we go through with this as written, and the state comes in six to eighteen months and implements their bill, we did all we could do.”

Finally, council member Ivan Maas had enough and motioned to table any further discussion. “This isn’t getting us anywhere,” he expressed. “We’re approaching two hours into the council meeting, and nothing good happens after two hours.”

His motion was met with a 3-2 vote. Jim Mulcahey and Andy Ahlman opposed pausing discussion. The council decided to hold a public hearing discussing this city ordinance (among many others) on Monday, March 27.