ocess of creating a special committee
Ohio Joins the Green Wave: Adult-Use Cannabis Now Legal in the Buckeye State
Ohio has officially hopped on the cannabis bandwagon, becoming the 24th state to legalize adult-use cannabis. The state’s voters approved Issue 2 back in November 2023, but the road to legalization hasn’t been without its bumps. Despite the initial excitement, GOP lawmakers in Ohio were quick to push for changes to the newly passed law.
And now, more than five months later, it seems that Republican lawmakers are still struggling to come to a consensus on potential updates and regulations for Ohio’s legalization law. While the timeline for recreational sales is still up in the air, a recent report from WCMH-TV suggests that sales could begin as early as September.
But before that can happen, lawmakers need to agree on a regulatory framework. The state’s Division of Cannabis Control (DCC) has proposed granting dual licenses to existing medical cannabis operators, allowing them to serve adult consumers starting this summer.
“I am, I would not say optimistic, but I am reasonably hopeful, if you need words, that we can get something done by June,” said Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) in an interview with the TV station.
While jumpstarting sales is a top priority, lawmakers are still at odds over what rules should be in place before the recreational market can launch. The original legislation would have allowed adults over 21 to legally purchase and possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis and grow up to six plants per person (or 12 plants per residence) at home. It also included a 10% tax on cannabis purchases to fund administrative costs, addiction treatment, municipalities with dispensaries, and social equity and job programs.
But the details of the future legislation are still unclear. Leaders have discussed potential changes to tax revenue distribution, home cultivation rules, and public smoking restrictions, among other things.
Speaker of the Ohio House Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) acknowledged that there are differing priorities among members and emphasized the importance of building a consensus. One of the main concerns is revenue, specifically how much money the state can expect to make and where it will go.
“There’s estimates,” Stephens said. “But we’ve seen estimates before, whether it’s gambling or other revenue services, that were going to be X and turned out they would be Y… What is the exact amount of taxes, what does that add up to, how does that compare, how much flexibility do local communities have?”
Huffman also highlighted the issue of public cannabis smoking, calling it the “most pressing” concern.
As for home cultivation, the Senate has already passed a bill to allow residents to grow cannabis with certain restrictions, but the House has yet to hold a hearing on it. In the meantime, representatives are working on their own bill. The House is also in the process of creating a special committee to address the issue.
