During its meeting Tuesday evening, the Charleston City Council approved an ordinance to establish a moratorium on cannabis business establishments.

The reason given by Mayor Brandon Combs was that the council needed to do more research and have more information on what the regulations for cannabis businesses will be from the state.

We at The Daily Eastern News believe that once the council feels it has enough research and enough information on the regulations from the state, it should strongly consider permitting cannabis business in Charleston.

We are not blind to the fact that Charleston is a college town and has many students as well as citizens living in town who use marijuana for recreation already and will most likely continue to use marijuana after the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act is in effect.

Why should the council ignore the opportunity it now has to benefit the city?

The council has the power to make money from the sale of marijuana and regulate it for citizens to ensure their safety.

This is a completely new option for the city and an exciting one at that, and yes, it is a little scary.

Fear of the unknown is common and understandable, but imagine the progress that could be made in Charleston with more sales tax income for the city.

Permitting cannabis businesses in Charleston has the potential to be beneficial for the city. 

Jobs would be created from the new businesses, which could attract more people to Charleston, either to live or to spend money. 

With more money from sales, income and possibly property taxes, the council could focus on improvements in Charleston.

It could go toward road improvements, infrastructure and more funding for the police and fire departments, which would all benefit the city greatly.

There is of course the potential for some downsides with permitting cannabis businesses in   Charleston, like students bringing more marijuana on campus, but we at The Daily Eastern News believe the pros in this situation outweigh the cons.

As of right now, the moratorium in place will only temporarily prohibit cannabis business in Charleston, but whether the vote comes before, on or after the end of the moratorium (May 31, 2020), we hope the council fully considers the things the city can gain from allowing cannabis business.

The Editorial Staff can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].