COVINGTON — The village of Covington is the latest in the area to consider adopting a 180-day moratorium in regard to medical marijuana facilities.

Monday evening, Covington Council held the first reading of a resolution adopting a moratorium on granting any permit allowing retail dispensaries, cultivators, or processors of medical marijuana within the village of Covington.

Ohio’s medical marijuana bill will go into effect on Sept. 8. Gov. John Kasich signed the bill on June 9. The law would allow patients to use marijuana in vapor form for certain chronic health conditions, but ban them from smoking it or growing it at home.

Under the law, cities and towns could choose to ban dispensaries or limit the number of them. Licensed cultivators, processors, dispensaries, and testing laboratories cannot be within 500 feet of schools, churches, public libraries, playgrounds, or parks. Employers could continue to enforce drug-testing policies and maintain drug-free workplaces. Banks that provide services to marijuana-related entities would be protected from criminal prosecution.

Piqua and Troy have approved similar moratoriums. Beavercreek also has imposed a moratorium.

“What this moratorium does is it just allows the village to assess what they want to do with these type of facilities within the next six months,” Village Attorney Frank Patrizio said. “Basically, (it) gives the village time to react.”

Patrizio asked the council to approve the resolution after its second reading during their next meeting before Sept. 8.