As concerned parents and residents of Cuyahoga Falls, OH, we are deeply troubled by the prospect of marijuana dispensaries opening up in our neighborhood. Among many concerns, we fear the potential increase in substance abuse, the drop in resale and home value of our properties, and the impact on our youth that these establishments may bring. 

Multiple studies show that these are valid concerns that should not be over looked.  (sources: Sabet K. Smokescreen: What the Marijuana Industry Doesn't Want You to Know. Mo Med. 2021 Sep-Oct;118(5):411-415. PMID: 34658426; PMCID: PMC8504499.)

Studies have found that even the presence of even storefront marijuana promotion encourages the acceptance and use of this drug among youth. (https://www.rand.org/news/press/2019/06/17.html

Moreover, there's also concern about increased substance abuse among youth. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana use can have significant negative effects on developing brains. (source: NIDA. 2023, April 17. How does marijuana use affect school, work, and social life?. Retrieved from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/how-does-marijuana-use-affect-school-work-social-life on 2023, October 12.)

With the understanding that many people do have a medical diagnosis for this drug and rely on the dispensaries that provide it, it should be said that dispensaries are already located within a 5 minute drive of our neighborhood in Akron's North Hill area as well as on Buchholzer Blvd. in Chappel Hill.  The benefit to having this dispensary in our neighborhood falls far below the risks to our children and community.

Our community should be a safe place where families thrive and children grow up healthy. The establishment of marijuana dispensaries threatens this vision. Therefore, we urge local authorities to reconsider allowing these establishments within our neighborhood boundaries.

Please sign this petition if you share our concerns about preserving the safety and integrity of Cuyahoga Falls. Together we can make sure our voices are heard!

*For further information concerning the impact of marijuana on youth visit onechancetogrowup.org and protectohiofamilies.com