HUBBARD — City council has banned the sale of recreational marijuana.

The legislation passed by four votes, with Michael Mogg and Cathy Cummings voting against the ban and Ryan Hallapy, Jerome Crowe, Robin Zambrini and Bonnie Viele voting in favor. Michael Kerr, D-at Large, said he abstained because he has a family member who works at the city’s medical marijuana dispensary.

Council approved the dispensing of medical marijuana in June 2017.

Mogg, D-3rd Ward, said he voted no because of studies that have been done on the benefits of marijuana.

“Cannabis is nothing but beneficial to cancer patients (and) mental patients,” he said.

He also said the income from recreational marijuana would benefit the township.

“Make it available for everybody, and the big thing was we looked to make $185,000 a year in revenue,” Mogg said. “Every city in the United States is scrambling for money, and we’re telling money to go away.”

Mogg said there is already a medical marijuana facility in the city. The facility, A Cut Above, has a dual-use dispensary license, meaning the store could sell both medical and recreational marijuana as long as it’s in compliance with the law.

“They (the dispensary) were shooting for permission to sell recreational — it’s a separate license by the state so, we had to supply the ordinance to permit them or prohibit them from doing it and unfortunately the board shot it down today,” he said.

Despite having a dual-use license, the dispensary sells only medical marijuana since the store lacks authority to sell marijuana for recreational use.

Cummings, D-4th Ward, said she was disappointed and had hoped recreational marijuana would pass.

“I think it would be good revenue to the city, and I think it’s something that we should at least try,” she said. “There’s other facilities in other cities that have been successful with it. We have an excellent police department, and I think they could keep it in order and I just think it would be beneficial, and until it’s not, I think we should allow it.”

Viele, D-1st Ward, said she approved the ban based on advice from Hubbard City police Chief Robert Thompson.

“He didn’t think it was a positive thing,” she said. “We’re not sure how much tax money we’re going to get from it.”

Thompson didn’t respond to messages seeking comment.

Crowe, D-at Large, said he voted for the ban because the votes for recreational marijuana in Hubbard in the November statewide election were nearly the same as the votes against it. He also said he’s unsure if the township will benefit financially.

“I know several people that smoked pot, and I don’t know that they’re going to go there (dispensary) and buy it when they can still get it cheaper with who they’re getting it (from) now,” Crowe said.

The legislation was put on the agenda by council member Ryan Hallapy, D-at Large, who did not respond to messages seeking comment.

The second and third readings were suspended, allowing the legislation to pass on the first reading, according to council clerk Lorrie Brown.

Viele said although the legislation passed, it has yet to be finalized.