John S.

Ohio Senate Bill Number 56, Revise Medical and Adult Use Marijuana Laws; Levy Taxes A Senate Bill to revise the voter approved Ohio Marijuana laws and increase taxes sponsored by Stephen A. Huffman (R) is moving through the Senate: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/sb56 It still has to be approved by the State House before going to the Governor's desk for signature. it is part of an effort to roll back some of the voter passed issues and increase prices through increased taxes. A positive in the bill is changing the State identification name from "Marijuana" a Spanish term, to the more accurate Cannabis, a long accepted Botanical and pharmaceutical term. SB56 runs 147 pages so it's not something you can read during your 30 minute lunch break. (image courtesy of Ohio's 136th Legislature website)

According to the Ohio Capital Journal, Gov. DeWine proposes increasing the taxes on Cannabis/Marijuana products from 10% to 20%, thus doubling the State's tax revenue from each sale. Increases are also requested for Tobacco products and sports betting. Mike DeWine’s proposed $218 billion state budget would fully fund public education, and raise taxes on tobacco and marijuana, as well as on sports betting companies to help fund things like the Cleveland Browns stadium project. Glaringly absent from the proposed tax increases is no increased taxes on alcohol beverages and products which shows a bias in favor of alcohol. What isn't acknowledged is that by loading up taxes on Marijuana products, this is a disincentive for consumers to buy from legal sources and a motivation to seek cheaper, less safe underground sources that pay zero taxes to the State. Cannabis/Marijuana products are already more expensive here than in neighboring states like Michigan. Couple the tax increases with efforts to reduce the THC potency, and this only adds another business burden on the newly established legal Cannabis industry in Ohio. The flip side is that it is cheaper to become an alcoholic in Ohio than a Cannabis consumer although the societal damages caused by alcoholism are well documented. Gov. DeWine is on record as being against Marijuana legalization and this new budget proposal appears to be evidence of that. One thing no one should believe is that doubling taxes or enacting THC potency limits will lead to less Cannabis consumption overall. The whole idea behind the Medical and, since last year, recreational Cannabis legalization, was to drive the illicit operators out of business but these proposed changes are likely to have the opposite effect.

Once again, Ohio GOP lawmakers have introduced a bill of proposed changes to the State's Marijuana laws claiming that the proposed changes will make the laws "better" (courtesy of Marijuana Moment) https://www.marijuanamoment.net/ohio-gop-lawmakers-introduce-bill-to-raise-marijuana-tax-restrict-home-grow-and-eliminate-social-equity-funding/? The Huffmans (Steve and Matt) are behind these proposed changes which will include substantially increasing the taxes on Marijuana/Cannabis products; limiting maximum THC content potency (from 90% to 70%) And reducing the number of home grown plants to six instead of the voter approved, 12 per household. Social equity components of Ohio's law are also proposed to be scrapped. The original idea behind the No. 2 voter approved legalization initiative was to tax and regulate Marijuana/Cannabis like alcohol but alcohol is free from the same restrictions as Cannabis. Ohio GOP members continue to seek to ban "intoxicating" Hemp products from being sold on store shelves which does makes sense because the Hemp products suppliers do not have to meet stringent State testing standards for purity and safety that regulated Cannabis products do. Nationally, claims are now being made by Florida Republicans that Donald Trump's prior verbal endorsement of Cannabis legalization vote in the State of Florida was because he was "tricked" and didn't understand the ramifications. The Florida Cannabis legalization bill passed by a majority but the required vote of 60% wasn't met so the issue was defeated. It is curious that those who wish to abolish environmental protection laws and deregulate commerce and business rules want to restrict individual personal freedoms like the consumption of Cannabis by responsible adults. While you aren't allowed to drink and drive, you can drink yourself to oblivion on grain alcohol or Moonshine or any other alcoholic beverage as you wish. That results in Winos being passed out on the sidewalks of bigger cities but you probably won't find many pot heads alongside the Winos. Cannabis should have never become the political pawn that it has but in today's volatile environment, everything has been politicized. I can only hope that saner minds prevail at the Statehouse and efforts to "improve" Ohio Cannabis laws will cease. Some states have allowed "intoxicating" Hemp products to continue to be sold by including them under existing Cannabis product rules. That means they would have to meet the same quality and safety standards as Cannabis products since essentially, Hemp and Cannabis are one and the same. The only difference is that Hemp usually has a much lower THC content and is mainly grown for industrial fibers and other commercial products.

Cannabis Education in Ohio Since I made the post several months ago about Zane State College (Zanesville) offering the first of their kind in Ohio college level courses for Cannabis Cultivation Specialist, Cannabis Concentrates and Edibles specialist, and Retail Cannabis specialist, to educate interested students (21 and over I assume) and prepare them for workforce jobs in Ohio's expanding Cannabis markets. I didn't believe in endorsing anything educational unless I looked into it personally. So, I signed up for the 9 week course, got somewhat sidetracked with various issues, and was forced to request the optional 30 days extension. That was also about the time that I realized this is not something for the casual interested party. I graduated with a bachelor's degree in Business many moons ago so I had to jog my memory to match the pace of rapid online college courses. I started spending multiple hours daily navigating through the online courses. Since these courses were offered through Zane State and Green Flower institute in Oakland, CA. I really liked that they brought real people to video lectures who were directly involved in the Cannabis industry. Even the older individuals had long ago switched to legal, state law compliant Cannabis cultivation, processing, storage, distribution, and retailing. The course testing methodology was complex. Multiple choice, all of the above, none of the above, very specific key words retrieval, but no essays. The cultivation specialist course was comprehensive giving an overview of all the different entities involved in the legal adult and medical use. The cultivation sections looked at recommended cultivation practices. Throughout the course, strict cleanliness was emphasized because Cannabis is considered a medicine and therefore, cultivators have to maintain a high level of cleanliness free from contaminants. Strict record keeping is also emphasized so that everything that happens in a Cannabis business is accounted for. Now, when it came to testing, a couple of things were misleading and there was one answer that just seemed blatantly wrong but, all in all, I was satisfied with the course and I do feel if I were involved in a cultivation venture or enterprise, I'd know what I'm talking about. I would not recommend the Cultivation course for someone just wanting to grow a few plants at home. There are tons of books and videos about that. The course was geared towards creating a commercial Cannabis industry workforce which is fine because since adult use Cannabis was made legal in Ohio, the combined medical and retail sales have been healthy. At the completion of the course, I was notified I had passed and allowed to join Credly which seems to be similar to Linked In. I was able to download a successful completion certificate altered slightly so I could share it here. For those who might feel they would like to become part of this new emerging Ohio Cannabis industry and retail market, I would personally only recommend the Cannabis Cultivation Specialist course. I can't vouch for the other two specialist certificates but for more information from Zane State (the course is 100% online) please visit their welcome website which is up and running: https://www.zanestate.edu/cannabis/ If any other Forumers decide to enroll, please check back and post your experiences. I wish you all good luck.

Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman (R), has apparently softened his stance towards Cannabis policies in our State. Previously, he wanted to eliminate or reduce the number of allowed home grown Cannabis plants, reduce THC potency limits, and increase taxes on Cannabis products sales, but after meeting and discussing the matter with other informed House members, including Jamie Callender (R) a well known pro-reform advocate for Cannabis, the Speaker appears to have backed down from seeking more stringent regulatory policies. From ABC News 5 in Cleveland and the online blog, Marijuana Moment, who shared this information, Speaker Huffman explains:

There's more good news about the results of Cannabis legalization that took effect in August: (article courtesy of Marijuana Moment) https://www.marijuanamoment.net/fatal-traffic-crashes-linked-to-marijuana-fell-by-30-in-ohio-last-year-as-legalization-took-effect-contrary-to-opponents-fears/? According to Ohio Highway Patrol statistics, traffic accidents and fatalities attributable to Marijuana impairment are down 30% since legalization took effect. Opponents of Cannabis legalization cited the likelihood of a rise in traffic accidents and fatalities from Marijuana impaired drivers following legalization. The reality is that those fears were unfounded based on a statistical analysis. Correction to Dec. 10 post: the new Ohio House speaker is Matt Huffman, not Steve Huffman-apologies for any confusion. Mr. Huffman continues to seek tighter controls over legal Cannabis in our state by wanting potency levels to be capped, fewer home grown plants allowed, and increased costs for consumers at dispensaries. In the partial year that recreational Cannabis has been legal in Ohio, a quarter of a Billion dollars in sales were conducted in 2024. Ohio Cannabis consumers and supporters should ask Speaker Huffman to not kill the Cannabis Goose that is laying a golden revenue egg for state coffers. Some Cannabis legal states are now looking at a Billion dollars a year in sales-children should absolutely be protected from Cannabis exposure and use, but responsible use adults and medical patients should not be penalized.

From Cleveland dot com (courtesy of Marijuana Moment blog) is this article by Laura Hancock about proposed changes to Ohio Cannabis policies: https://www.cleveland.com/news/2024/12/recreational-marijuana-proposals-would-ban-billboards-allow-pre-rolls-super-pre-rolls.html The key details are proposals to allow pre-rolled joints to be sold in Ohio dispensaries in two varieties with one being solely flower ingredients and the other (a "super" pre-roll) having a concentrate additive for more potency. Worth mentioning again is that Ohio still does not allow Medical Cannabis patients to smoke the product so these pre-rolls are not allowed for medical Cannabis/Marijuana patients. Medical patients are allowed to use vaping devices, however, as well as edibles and tinctures. (extracts in a alcohol base) Another key proposal is a continued ban on advertising for dispensaries as has been the policy in the past. The article cited Michigan which permits billboard ads for dispensaries and allows customers to visually see the product being sold unlike Ohio where all products are in sealed individual product containers and kept out of customer sight in a storeroom . Michigan Cannabis sales continue to be robust and because prices there tend to be lower, some sales continue to be to Ohio customers. Side note: when I visited southern Michigan earlier this year I was amazed to see Marijuana billboards along the highways advertising dispensaries and "420" festivals.

From the Marijuana Moment blog, a more detailed explanation about the changes and proposed revisions to Ohio's Marijuana laws and regulations: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/top-ohio-lawmaker-wants-to-restrict-marijuana-homegrow-rights-and-strengthen-thc-potency-caps/? Steve Huffman, (R) the incoming speaker, is front and center in the legislative effort to curtail Cannabis use in our State. He wants to impose THC potency limits, reduce or eliminate the home grow option, and ultimately, repeal the vote of the people to make Cannabis legal for Ohio adults. It seems that those most vehemently opposed to legal Cannabis are those having little to no personal experience with it. I just completed a video lecture section in one of the Zane State college level Cannabis Cultivator courses where a major West Coast grower laments the rapid decline in THC potency over time commenting that Pot stored for over a year may have lost all of its potency that begins to decline as soon as it's harvested, dried, and cured. Exposure to light and heat accelerates the THC decline. There are practical limits to how much THC content can be cultivated into a Cannabis plant. As many know, only female Cannabis plants are grown for their flowers or buds/nuggets. The legal Marijuana market in Ohio only goes back to June of this year so trying to roll back the voter approved initiative this soon after initial market entry is disingenuous. Instead of helping to regulate and establish the legal Cannabis market in Ohio, imposing additional restrictions only benefits the illegal market with all of the negatives that come with it.

The State of Ohio has just released new and revised regulations for the Cannabis industry: (linked from Marijuana Moment, the online Cannabis news blog) https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/com.ohio.gov/DCC/DCC_CSI_Rule_Package_6.pdf Among the various amendments and revisions were these limits set on Cannabis potency and THC (Delta 9) levels.expected OAC 1301:18-4-05 Limitations on THC Content for Cannabis Intended for Direct Customer Sale • THC content is limited by the statute at 35% for both medical and non-medical plant material, and 70% for medical cannabis extracts and 90% for non-medical cannabis extracts. This rule establishes those limitations as well. OAC 1301:18-4-07 Limitations on Cannabis Strain Names • This rule prohibits a licensee from using a strain name that is attractive to children, false or misleading, obscene, a health-related statement, or encourages over consumption or intoxication, among other prohibits. The rule also specifically prohibits strain names that infer cartoon characters, fictional characters, or pop culture icons whose target important audience is children or youth, or a commercially available candy product. Keeping Cannabis products out of the hands of minors is important. Regulating THC levels in adult use Cannabis is questionable but any strains that result in being close to a 35% THC level are potent enough to be recognized by consumers. Higher levels are permitted for extracts so for now seeking more latitude is probably unnecessary. The prohibition of using youth oriented names for Cannabis stains also makes sense. I do recall a product sold in Michigan with a package cartoon character with droopy eyes named Donald F'word. Ohio is taking a more serious approach to such things. I did take the time to read and review the new pdf rules and revisions document and clearly understand why the college level courses being offered at Zane State College are important to understand so that those in the Ohio Cannabis industry can stay legal and compliant with State regulations. I'm now in the last quarter of the Cannabis Cultivator course I signed up for and hope to wrap up the studies and the program in the next week to ten days. Additional courses are available in Cannabis Dispensary retailing as well as the creation of extracts and edibles from plant material. I would strongly advise anyone contemplating entering the Ohio Cannabis industry to take a look at the studies program since much of it is focused on compliance with State regulations and rules. At the Federal level, Cannabis still remains on the DEA's Schedule I list and until that changes, Cannabis businesses will continue to be hampered by being a cash only business and not allowed to use normal banking channels like most other legal businesses. 2025 will be an interesting year to watch to see how much progress is made towards national Cannabis legalization. Efforts will continue.

We can only hope so. In the news, Michigan claims that it will reach the ten billion dollar mark in Cannabis sales. I expect over time Cannabis sales totals will overtake liquor sales in many states where it has become legal. Some of those Michigan sales totals came from Ohioans impatiently waiting for legal sales to begin back home. Now, Ohio is in a similar position with adjacent Pennsylvania and West Virginia still prohibiting recreational sales. Curiously, in the article about Huffman's proposals, one vocal critic of his views was the representative from Wintersville, Ohio, which just happens to have a thriving dispensary for both medical and recreational Cannabis. During my visit there a couple of weeks ago, the parking lot was full and business inside was brisk.

I read about the Huffman proposals. I hope that efforts to dilute the THC content of both medical and recreational Marijuana go nowhere. As repeatedly explained, THC potency declines with time and exposure to temps and sunlight. A year old bag of smoke not kept under freezer conditions will have far less THC potency than when first harvested. Ohio's state and local municipality rules and regulations make the Ohio Marijuana market one of the most strictly regulated in the country, Legalization did not lead to zombie-like legions of crazed pot heads roaming the streets. Those who like to stir up fears are always looking for scapegoats to demonize, like Marijuana. Actually repealing a voter approved initiative would be difficult at this point and, as others have pointed out, this is a growing new industry that will create millionaires over time as well as adding millions to the State coffers in comparison to the days of prohibition when enforcement of Marijuana laws cost the State and ruined the lives of many by adding drug convictions to their personal records. We should not be apathetic towards people trying to reverse the will of the voters. I have yet to hear any rational arguments that Ohio would be better off re-criminalizing Marijuana than by allowing a legal, well regulated market to exist, as we have presently.

Those numbers of over one million in sales per day don't surprise me. I assume an additional amount in sales have come from sales of Medical Marijuana. Some of the more established states where Cannabis has been legal for several years have sales in the half billion dollars per year range. Nationally, legal Cannabis sales are expected to reach $45 billion per year within the next two years. On a side note, I'm into week 5 of the online Cannabis Cultivation Specialist course offered by Zane State College. It is quite comprehensive and informative for those interested in learning about the business end of the Cannabis industry. The next course begins on December 2, 2024. Well worth the time and expense in my estimation.

The State fined six dispensaries $212,000 dollars in fines for violating a rule that advertising is prohibited. Cannabis is an amazing product that can't be seen by purchasers and can't be advertised by legal sellers. That seems fairly restrictive to me.

Ohio Recreational Cannabis sales for the first two months total nearly $100 Million According to a just published article from Cleveland.com https://www.cleveland.com/news/2024/10/new-high-ohio-recreational-marijuana-sales-approach-100-million-mark.html dispensaries our State have now tallied up $98.3 million dollars in sales. State coffers received $11 million in tax revenue from these sales. The Cleveland.com article mentions the State restriction that bars customers from smelling or seeing the actual product they are buying at the dispensary. I've seen dispensary videos from other states where the actual buds are stored in large Apothecary type lidded glass jars and customers are allowed to see the product they are buying during their purchase. Of course, no state allows customers to sample Cannabis products prior to purchase for obvious reasons. Still, visual quality, aroma, and flavor, play a role in customers' buying decisions so that restriction of not allowing customers to see what they are buying makes little common sense. Cannabis is a plant product and some varieties and strains are superior to others but all a customer has to go on are photo images of the product in opaque sealed containers. That's not fair to Ohio Cannabis consumers, IMO. Mention was also made that initial prices per ounce at the launch of recreational sales have come down slightly but are still substantially more than in States like Michigan.

Agreed. But I would hasten to add that there may have been program implementation issues during the first few years after Medical Marijuana was approved and legalized in Ohio that over time have been addressed and corrected. In the category of "is it really necessary ?", there's a proposed State law in New Jersey where individuals could add themselves to a list barring them from entering Cannabis dispensaries (article courtesy of Marijuana Moment, an online blog: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/new-jersey-bill-would-let-people-bar-themselves-from-entering-marijuana-retailers/? ) One excerpt from the article: "Bill Caruso, a cannabis law lawyer involved in the November 2020 ballot initiative that legalized recreational cannabis, said he generally supports the goal of the bill to protect people from harm, but doesn’t see a need for it. He said he hasn’t heard any major concerns of people getting addicted to marijuana or losing their life savings because they’re buying too much cannabis. “Could we do it? Sure. The bigger question here is why, because we haven’t seen this overt harm that’s been created because of the legalization of marijuana,” Caruso said. Obviously, some lawmakers still have a "Reefer Madness" mentality-marijuana dependency is a known phenomenon but an individual would have to have other emotional or psychological issues to feel the need to add their names to a do not enter dispensary registry. The line between dependency and addiction is subtle but in the case of Cannabis, cessation of use does not result in delerium tremens as in alcoholics, or "cold turkey" serious multiple physical symptoms, as seen in opioid addicts. If such a dispensary ban law were approved, what would be next; adding obese people to a list banning them from entering fast food and all-you-can-eat restaurants?

Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program at Six Years (article link courtesy of Marijuana Minute online blog) For those who like numbers and statistics, Ohio State University's Moritz College of Law has just published a report studying the results of Ohio's medical Marijuana program at six years: https://moritzlaw.osu.edu/faculty-and-research/drug-enforcement-and-policy-center/research-and-grants/policy-and-data-analyses/ommcp Among the findings was that 74% or respondents surveyed were satisfied with the program which for government programs is a relatively high percentage. (no pun intended) Among the other findings, prices for Cannabis products have declined slightly but are still above prices per gram unit in States like Michigan. I'm sharing a program satisfaction survey from the published report, below.

Legal Cannabis Sales totals in Ohio surpass two billion dollars According to the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Cannabis Control, as of September 7, 2024, the cumulative sales figures since the Medical Marijuana program began in 2019 as well as the legal recreational sales that began on August 7, of this year now total over two billion dollars. Like it or not, Cannabis is now a multi-billion dollar industry in the Buckeye state. For more information, read the stats on the Department of Commerce's website: https://com.ohio.gov/divisions-and-programs/cannabis-control/licensee-resources/what-we-do/dcc-update Over a million prescriptions have been written for Ohio Medical Marijuana patients. Between the beginning of recreational sales on August 7 to September 7th, $54,649,749 in sales were recorded. One can only speculate how much money that was previously being funneled to illegal suppliers (including foreign cartels) is now being taxed and added to the State's coffers. Add the additional taxes paid by employees in the industry from state approved growers, to packaging and marketing, as well as dispensary employees, and that represents another substantial State tax revenue stream. Given these impressive results, it would be hard to convincingly argue that things were better when all Cannabis sales were illegal and the unreported proceeds went to criminal enterprises. Today's environment of legal Medical and recreational Marijuana seems like the better of those two scenarios.

And that is a primary argument for Cannabis buyers to buy from licensed dispensaries. I've had an Ohio Med MJ card for 3 years and never sought to purchase outside the legally allowed sources. Those who want to argue they can't afford dispensary prices are still permitted to grow their own as previously mentioned. For me, regulated product safety outweighs the extra cost. There are still those who buy Moonshine Whiskey from bootleggers but far more who buy from liquor store outlets. I would like to see a regulatory process in place where private firms would be allowed to cultivate selected strains under state oversight for individuals in exchange for a fee with the product delivered to the customer for a set delivery date at a set price. Not everyone has a green thumb and if not grown indoors, there's nothing to stop someone from stealing your plants just before harvest time.

Another possible "loophole" is in the area of home grown weed. From what I've read, home growers (allowed up to 6 plants individually and a total of 12 in a household) who find themselves with excess plant material are legally allowed to give the excess away for free to eligible adults but are not allowed to receive payment for it. (or even recommended "donations") Large very healthy plants which are grown outdoors can produce a pound or more of product in places like Mendocino County, CA. I expect here in Ohio many home grown plants will produce far less than a pound keeping the grower within legal possession weight limits. As for the illicit market, I'm sure it will adapt and if there's a buck somewhere to be made, they will find it. Legal Medical and Recreational Cannabis cost more but some of that is because of strict State regulatory rules about testing, inspection, tracking, and packaging adding to the cost. In return, you are purchasing a known strain of specific weight with a stated amount of ingredients including THC levels. Purchasing at the street level, the buyer is getting an unknown product only based on the level of trust between he or she and the seller. It's still illegal, by the way. There have been a number of Cannabis product recalls in recent months for mold and other unwanted contaminates but there are no such recalls for street sold products. In summary, the legal market is safer for the consumer than buying cheaper products of unknown origin from a street vendor. I expect over time, as the legal recreational Cannabis market becomes national, that large corporations will use their production economies of scale to help bring down costs to consumers. I'm hoping there will always be room for smaller boutique growers to offer other choices for consumers. Cannabis is unlike Tobacco in that there are so many different strains and hybrids with each having its own characteristics. We are still very early in this evolving market but for now it looks like Ohio has had a successful month long launch of Recreational Marijuana sales.

One month after legal recreational Cannabis sales launched in Ohio, the recreational sales figures come in at $44 million. (source: Cleveland.com) It appears weekly sales are running at a steady $11 million. That works out annually to a little over a half billion per year but some months will have greater totals than others. Not bad for a legal market that started from zero dollars in early August. The added Tax revenue will surely help the State budget as well.

Based on the course information provided by Zane State College, I went ahead and signed up for the cultivation specialist course. After all, adults are allowed to personally cultivate up to six plants or 12 plants per household if there are at least two adults. On a broader scale, I hope to learn more about the Cannabis industry in Ohio and perhaps meet or become acquainted with others having similar interests. I do believe there's lots of room for business growth in this new legalized environment. Should Cannabis become legalized nationally, I expect some big business interests (Tobacco; Pharma) to move in to take over market share. However, like fine wines, there are so many hybrids and exotic strains of Cannabis besides the two major strains of Indica (Asia) and Sativa (Americas) that there's going to be room for boutique or specialty cultivators. A few states are now allowing limited marketing of home grown Cannabis in what amounts to local farmers' markets. Still, the safest and most reliable Cannabis product is one regulated by State authorities and has been tested for pesticides and other unwanted substances. Product information is printed right on the packaging. With homegrown plants, product safety would amount to the level of trust between the grower/seller and buyer. I'm not aware of any allowances for selling home grown under current Ohio Cannabis regulations but it seems possible that it could change over time. On a side note...Donald Trump recently endorsed Marijuana legalization in Florida (his current home state) going against Republican Gov. DeSantis who opposes legalization. The legalization measure is on the November Florida ballot but has to have a 60% majority of votes to pass. Had that been the case in Ohio when Initiative No 2 was put to vote, Cannabis would still be illegal here except for medical patients. It will be interesting to observe the outcome of that Florida measure although legalization proponents believe the 60% threshold will be reached.

For those who may be interested in working in the Ohio Cannabis industry Now that Medical and Recreational Cannabis are both legal to adults in Ohio, a specialized industry with growth potential is unfolding in our State. Zane State College in Zanesville, has announced a 9 week 100% online Cannabis education program beginning on October 7 offering three different certificates: 1. Cannabis Cultivation Specialist; 2.Cannabis Retail Specialist; 3. Cannabis Extraction and Product Development Specialist. For more information visit https://cannabis.zanestate.edu/ It is designed for online, off-campus students and at least as of right now, (Aug. 23, 2024) as an enticement, a $150 off discount for early enrollment is being offered. Cost for the 9 week program is $750, according to the College website. If you've been interested in working in the Cannabis industry, completing the course and obtaining a certificate should give you an edge. The program is offered with the participation of Green Flower, a nationally recognized Cannabis Industry education firm: (from KGET.com) Founded in 2014, Green Flower is the industry leader in cannabis education, empowering thousands of consumers, regulators, and professionals with the knowledge they need to succeed in the emerging cannabis industry today. Green Flower's content and technology platform powers the cannabis programs of top universities and colleges across the country, provides customized learning and compliance solutions for cannabis businesses of all sizes, and equips individuals with the skills and credentials necessary to make an impact in the modern cannabis industry. Disclaimer: I have no personal involvement or stake in Zane State College's Cannabis education program. However, I did request more information from their website-which you can too.

Absolutely agree with you. Keeping Cannabis in the (dangerous) Schedule I category with Heroin and Fentanyl makes it difficult to conduct legitimate scientific studies and to classify the variety of derivatives and their psychoactive or medicinal effects. Instead, there's the cat and mouse game between makers/sellers of unregulated Hemp derivatives and legislators/enforcement officials. A more comprehensive approach is needed that in the end clearly defines what should be legal and what shouldn't be. Convenience stores and smoke shops shouldn't be testing grounds for unregulated and untested products with their customers serving unwittingly as guinea pigs.

Banning Hemp Derivatives may be more challenging because of subtle chemical compound differences. Ever heard of HHCO or HHC? (I hadn't) Elevate Holistics, a Tusla, OK, based firm, where I've obtained my Ohio Med MJ card for the past three years, has an explanation about these different compounds: https://elevate-holistics.com/blog/hhco-vs-hhc/?utm_source=90 Days Active The article explains the differences although trying to ban each and every compound would likely require a detailed chemical analysis by a professional chemist. I think I'll stick with the tried and true natural Cannabis from a licensed dispensary and let others experiment with exotic compounds. It seems likely convenience stores or smoke shops will have to explore the legality and safety of these compounds in various products. Twenty years from now, I would expect to see nationally sold Cannabis brands, pre-rolled like cigarettes, or small containers of branded Cannabis flower, become the norm and they won't be restricted to dispensaries only There's plenty of big Tobacco and big Pharma companies who would love to see that happen. Cannabis is already a multi-billion dollar market that grows with each State that has legalized it.

Thanks ColDayMan for changing the topic title as the political controversy issue is fading now that legal recreational sales have started. From Aug. 6 to Aug. 10, the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control said the state’s dispensaries racked up $11,530,708 in Rec MJ sales. Article from NBC i Channel 4 in Columbus: https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/central-ohio-news/hype-isnt-dying-around-ohio-recreational-marijuana-sales-data-shows/ That figure is on par with initial recreational sales results in States like Illinois and Michigan. I saw a clip about Cresco Labs, a major player in the Ohio Cannabis Market (both medical and recreational) announcing plans to expand their growing facilities to accommodate this new expanding market. In practical terms, that means more jobs for Ohioans and some folks in the Statehouse should be pleased to see that the projected tax revenue figures may have been estimated too low. The Statehouse should go ahead, stop stalling, and pass legislation to codify Initiative No 2 into State law. Moreover, on a Federal level, the DEA needs to reschedule Cannabis to Schedule III from the dangerous substance with no medical benefits, Schedule I category which would then allow legal Marijuana businesses to access normal banking channels as well as pay Federal taxes just like liquor companies. At this point in the evolution of legalized Cannabis there's nothing to be gained by stalling or blocking a substance that's now legal in so many States. Florida has Marijuana legalization on the ballot in November but Gov. Desantis opposes it. (so did Gov. Dewine, but he followed the will of Ohio voters to legalize it) Despite gradual changes in attitudes, I still do not know anyone in my community (Cadiz) who uses Cannabis medically or recreationally. There's a small downtown "smoke shop" but they only sell Hemp derivatives which are going to be removed from the market once legislation to curb sales and ban Hemp derivatives (containing Delta-8; Delta-10, etc.) takes place. Gov. Dewine has said he's making it a priority to ban Hemp derivative sales although I haven't heard what the latest developments have been on that issue. Besides, with recreational Cannabis sales now occurring, adding Hemp derivatives almost seems redundant.