Ohio’s Governor says that the current state marijuana law, which allows adults to grow, consume and possess without any restrictions but does not allow them to buy regulated cannabis products has created a “goofy” situation and “real mess”, especially since retailers are not expected to be open until the end of the year.
It is legal to consume marijuana. It is legal to grow marijuana. You can’t purchase the marijuana or the seeds. In a Thursday media interview, Mike DeWine said (R). “All that’s happening is encouraging a larger black market because people believe they can buy it legal, and you see advertising being done.”
DeWine suggested that the existing medical dispensaries in the state be allowed to sell marijuana to adults who are not registered medical patients. This change would have to be approved by lawmakers.
He said, “Given the authority, we could start selling marijuana to the people of Ohio. The way that we’d have to do this, at least to begin with, is through medical dispensaries.” “We could do this and turn it on in about 60 days, after the legislature passes a initiative.”
DeWine campaigned himself against the legalization ballot that voters approved last summer, even though he admitted it “passed by a good margin” (57 percent). He said going forward, “we should have the ability to get what the people wanted, and what I think the people want is to be allowed to buy marijuana in regulated stores.”
DeWine pointed out that “other issues” will also need to be addressed in relation to cannabis legalization. This includes how the state’s tax revenue is spent.
He added, “We need to bring the House and Senate back together and start discussing this. Let’s create a bill we can use to move forward.”
The governor has said that he supports the plan that was passed by Senate members last month that would allow medical dispensaries to start selling “immediately”. However, even if this plan is implemented, it may take several months for sales to begin.
Cannabis advocates are pushing back on some of the other provisions in the Senate plan. These include a decrease in the cap for household-grown marijuana; new THC limitations; restrictions on public consumption, and re-allocating tax revenues.
Reformers prefer a separate House bill, which would make fewer sweeping changes than what the voters approved. It would, however, ban the sharing of marijuana among adults, add an cultivator tax, and make similar changes to tax revenue distribution.
DeWine previously expressed support for the idea that marijuana tax dollars be moved to law enforcement — a policy change opposed to by advocates who wish to maintain funding to social equity initiatives, as prescribed in the ballot initiative approved by voters.
DeWine discussed the delta-8 THC product at Friday’s event. These products use cannabinoids that are derived from hemp, and they are not regulated by federal law or most states. DeWine also urged legislation on that subject.
The governor stated that “the legislature can separate it from marijuana in a bill or they can include it in the same one.” “I don’t care. It’s up the legislator. This is bad stuff and it’s being sold to children.”
He said: “I ask the legislature to act quickly on this.”
DeWine Governor held a Press Conference a day before , calling for a ban on state or other restrictions .
His comments follow a separate interview he gave earlier in the month, where he called on lawmakers to permit marijuana sales “very soon” and to limit or ban hemp-derived cannabinoid product.
Some Democratic legislators have stated that they are open to revisions in the debate over legalization. For example, they might be willing to put some cannabis tax revenues towards K-12 education. Other supporters of the voter approved legalization initiative, however, are against legislators undermining the will of a majority who approved it.
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Ohio Rep. Juanita Brent, (D), has stressed that those who have been criminalized for marijuana, and those with industry expertise , should be included in any effort to amend the state’s voter-approved law. She argues that it shouldn’t be left to the “anti-cannabis legislators” alone to modify the statute.
Rep. Gary Click filed legislation late in November to allow municipalities to ban cannabis use and home-growing within their jurisdictions. Click also revised the distribution of state marijuana tax revenues by reducing funding allocated to programs for social equity and employment and instead directing them to law enforcement training.
After the Ohio Department of Commerce received voter approval for legalization, it published a FAQ guide to inform residents about the new law, timelines for implementation and other information. Regulators have repeatedly stated that policies could change depending on the actions of the legislature.
Last month, the commerce department announced that the top state alcohol regulator , who had previously served as a prosecutor , would head up the new Ohio cannabis regulatory division .
CDC finds youth marijuana use fell in Washington State’s largest county after adult-use legalization
The post Ohio Marijuana Law Creates A “Goofy Situation,” Governor Says. With Legal Possession but No Place To Purchase It first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
