WARREN — City council is having legislation prepared that will allow recreational marijuana facilities but limit the number to three within city boundaries.

Council’s health and welfare committee met Wednesday to ask Law Director Enzo Cantalemessa to prepare the legislation, which will be acted upon at the Sept. 11 council meeting since council will be on summer recess in August.

Councilwoman Helen Rucker, D-at Large, said the legislation would allow up to three such establishments within the city for the first year, but that number may be changed as some members of council want to limit it to two.

The legislation also will dictate where such establishments can be located, such as not being near a school or church, which are similar to the rules for liquor establishments. Rucker said the recreational marijuana facilities would be allowed only in business corridors such as Elm Road, Youngstown Road, Parkman Road and Market Street.

Cantalemessa said the legislation council will vote on would allow the facilities, but limit the number for the first year and then review the legislation to see if any changes need to be made.

“The number will be up to council,” Cantalamessa said.

Right now, gLeaf Medical Marijuana is located on Route 422, providing medical marijuana.

Officials said gLeaf has applied for a recreational marijuana license and if approved, it would be counted as one of the three in Warren.

Cantalemessa said if gLeaf’s license is approved, owners may need to address capacity and look at a nearby location for expansion.

He said applications from operators in Trumbull County would need to first be approved by the state for licenses on a first-come, first-served basis.

“The market will dictate a lot of those things,” Cantalemessa said, noting Niles and Girard are welcoming such facilities, but Niles is limited to one in a specifically zoned area.

Councilman Mike O’Brien, D-at Large, said regulations for such businesses include a police officer must be on site.

Councilman Greg Greathouse, D-3rd Ward, said the recreational marijuana facilities will bring in revenue for the city.

“With three of these in the city, we can easily fund our repaving program for a year,” he said.

Greathouse said identification is checked at the door and then checked inside when a customer goes to gLeaf.

“These are more heavily regulated than a bank,” he said.

Council members said voters in Warren supported legalizing marijuana last year.

Councilwoman Honeya Price, D-6th Ward, said people will be getting the marijuana somewhere, so Warren should take advantage of the extra revenue. She said when she ran for the 6th Ward seat, residents told her they supported legalizing marijuana.

With Niles and Girard allowing the facilities, officials said they will need to see how far away Warren’s recreational marijuana businesses can be located. Cantalemessa said there are state guidelines on the proximity of the facilities, but he said he will check when the establishments are located in separate jurisdictions.

Officials noted that gLeaf recently was vandalized and suffered a fire a few weeks ago.

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