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Ohio


NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE OVER CHANGES TO RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA LAW IN OHIO

Ohio voters approved Issue 2 legalizing recreational marijuana in November, and
the new law took effect Dec. 7.
Author: Doug Petcash
Published: 5:53 PM EST December 12, 2023
Updated: 5:53 PM EST December 12, 2023

COLUMBUS, Ohio — With the year winding down for the Ohio General Assembly,
lawmakers are still working to make changes to the law voters passed in November
making recreational marijuana legal in Ohio. Their work could carry over into
next year after the holiday break.

The Issue 2 law, as voters passed it, took effect on Dec. 7. So, recreational
marijuana is legal, but there is no place to buy it.

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As the House Finance Committee hears more testimony this week on House Bill 354
that would make changes to the Issue two law, lawmakers in both parties and both
chambers negotiate how the new law should be fully implemented. 

Key issues include the rate at which marijuana sales and cultivation should be
taxed and where the revenue should go. 

"I think we want to make sure that the tax rate is not so high that, number one,
that in places like Toledo that we're sending people across state lines,"
Democratic House Minority Leader Allison Russo said. "Number two that we're just
incentivizing the black market."

"There are certain buckets that we all agree, law enforcement, mental health
addiction services, local communities," said Republican State Representative
Jamie Callender who sponsored House BIll 354.

Last week, the Ohio Senate passed a bill that would, among other things, allow
recreational marijuana to be sold at medical marijuana dispensaries immediately.

"I think that is something to consider. I think it's not a horrible idea,"
Republican Speaker of the House Jason Stephens said. "It's just how do you
actually administer those types of things."

The Senate bill would also expunge the records of those with prior convictions
for possessing marijuana. 

"I think that's something the house and senate both agree on. It's just a matter
of how," Stephens said.  

As the negotiations go on, Stephens said he does not think anything about
marijuana will be on the House floor for a vote on Wednesday.  

"We can't let the urgent get in the way of the important," Stephens said. "And
the reason is it's just such a big change in Ohio's law, culture, all of these
things that we need to be deliberative about it."

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"The status quo is Issue 2 as it was passed by voters," Russo said. "So this is
moving forward if we don't act, which is certainly an interesting position to be
in when you're doing negotiations."

"We want to make sure we get it right rather than quickly," Callender said. 

The legislature is set to go on holiday break after this week. 

A breakthrough could happen on marijuana legislation in the next couple days,
but Speaker Stephens said this not a lame duck legislature and more sessions are
scheduled for January. 


RELATED ARTICLES

 * Ohio Senate bill would allow medical marijuana dispensaries to sell legal pot
   amongst other changes
 * Adults can now legally possess and grow marijuana in Ohio — but there's
   nowhere to buy it
 * Issue 2: The future of wiping possession records clean remains unclear


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