Ohio’s new voter-approved marijuana legalization law takes effect December 7, and lawmakers are deep in discussion on how to alter it.
(Photo credit: Pixabay).
After making comments to the press last week stating that he wants lawmakers to make revisions to Issue 2 prior to it taking effect, Governor Mike DeWine has promised to respect the “spirit” of the new law, without going into specific details.
“I don’t think there’s any surprises out there,” Governor DeWine told reporters today following a meeting with the leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives. “I don’t think any of the things that I have suggested that we do really flies in the face of the spirit of what people were voting for.”
DeWine says he believes “that most people went in (to voting booths) and the issue was, are we gonna have legal marijuana or we’re not going to have legal marijuana? And the details – I’m not sure people got focused on it. I have to focus on it because we have to administer it. We have to make sure it actually does in fact work.”
DeWine didn’t put forth any specific policy proposals, but he has mentioned that he wants more restrictions and safeguards when it comes to driving while under the influence of marijuana, advertising marijuana and marijuana products, and preventing accidental ingestion.
Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman says he is interested in potentially raising the 10% sales tax on marijuana created by Issue 2 to as much as 20%. Huffman says he also wants lawmakers to consider placing a lower cap on the amount of THC a product can have.
DeWine says any changes to the law should take effect before December 7, giving lawmakers less than four weeks to strike a deal.
“If we can do this before December 7, it just gives everybody better notice of what the rules are and how this thing will work out”, said DeWine. “It’s just going to be a lot better for everybody.”
After DeWine made his initial comments about wanting to make changes to Issue 2, Tom Haren, a spokesman for the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol (the group that put Issue 2 forward), said; “I can’t believe in 2023 we’re actually talking about elected officials not respecting the will of the voters and not respecting the outcome of an election, I expect, I think that every single voter in Ohio has a right to expect, that elected officials will implement and respect the will of voters.”
Once Issue 2 takes effect on December 7 of this year, those 21 and older will be allowed to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and up to 15 grams of marijuana concentrates (wax, oil, etc.). In addition, they will be allowed to cultivate, for personal use, up to six marijuana plants.
According to a recent report by Scioto Analysis, Issue 2 will likely generate around $260 million in net benefits for society annually.
