AUSTINTOWN — Austintown will decline to approve any marijuana dispensaries in the township until at least 2025.

Trustees Robert Santos and Bruce Shepas voted Monday to impose a moratorium until at least the end of the year, citing financial and legal concerns about the businesses.

“There have been multiple inquiries to the township about what our laws are and when Austintown will start to approve the opening of dispensaries in our township,” Shepas said. “We’re still awaiting further instructions from the state. Right now, our understanding is that we cannot approve anything yet, but once those additional instructions come out from Gov. (Mike) DeWine’s office, then we’ll be able to approve or deny some applications.”

Shepas said the township is waiting to find out first how many dispensaries are allowed in the township. He said trustees also are concerned about the financial aspects of the law voters approved in November.

The law, placed on the ballot as Issue 2, includes a 10% sales tax on marijuana sales. Of that tax revenue, Shepas said, 55% would go to the state, which would then send 36% back to the communities that host dispensaries. Another 36% would go to a cannabis social equity and jobs fund, 25% to the state’s substance abuse and addiction fund, and 3% to the state’s division of cannabis control and tax commission fund.

Cannabis Division Superintendent Jim Canepas said last week that he expects the state to have applications for dispensaries ready by June 7 and permits to be issued as early as Sept. 7.

But Shepas said trustees are concerned about the uncertainty around the law in the governor’s office and legislature.

“Based on what we know, the governor is trying to reword what the people have voted on and we are not comfortable approving any dispensaries at this time until we have further instruction,” he said.

Shepas said DeWine has mentioned eliminating the 36% — which would be placed in a host communities cannabis facilities fund — leaving local communities with no financial benefit from the sales of marijuana.

In that case, he said, it would not make much financial sense for Austintown to approve the dispensaries within the township, and voters in the township only approved the measure by about a 55-45% vote, making it a hot-button issue.

Shepas said individuals are still permitted by law to grow up to 12 marijuana plants at home, and the township has no plans to interfere with that right.

Township police have emphasized that it remains illegal to possess marijuana inside a vehicle without a medical marijuana card, until the state has implemented fully the terms of Issue 2.

Shepas said no matter what happens, he is concerned about public safety.

“I strongly believe it’s going to be more of a burden on the police if this is implemented,” he said.

“My concern would be the younger generation using it and getting behind the wheel, so I expect we’ll see an increase in EMS and police calls responding to accidents.”