John S.

Renewed my Med MJ card for what I hope is the last time. Doctor's consultation was around $83, about half what it was last year. What was almost Bizarre in an Ohio sort of way was the one cent charge for card issuance and registration. Yes, ONE cent. Had to put in credit card info so they could deduct exactly one cent from my account. (best State government bargain, ever) The explanation I've heard is that their computerized system is not programed to create cards unless a charge for the service has been made. Now I can go to a dispensary and get my stuff but I wasn't bluffing about a trip to Michigan-I don't want to tip off house burglars, but sometime in the near future I plan to visit to a dispensary in Buchanan. MI which displays it's product offerings online. Comparing prices, they are at least 25% cheaper than in Ohio. I have some business to attend to as well so the trip is not solely for that purpose. I'll say one last time...dragging their feet about getting supply to the retail market just puts more tax money in other State's coffers. More proactive individuals would have anticipated passage of Initiative 2 and would have already had a plan in place with the resources for expansion into the legal Adult market. Maybe Michiganders needed the money more than Ohio does?

Looks like in the coming days I may swing by Buchanan in southern Michigan. I did pay for renewal of my Ohio Med MJ license today but if I have a chance to sample some Michigander Cannabis, then why not? I browsed what was available from online product menus and noticed their prices are about 25% lower than comparable products at Ohio Med MJ dispensaries so I may also have a chance to compare and see if they are any better. I urge Ohio legislators to move forward to implement the retail adult sales without additional delay but that seems unlikely considering how things have evolved since passage of the No. 2 initiative. Usually, the awesome motivational power of money in added tax revenue would suffice, but in Ohio, who knows?

Since retail sales approval is very slowly moving along (the House Chamber has yet to vote on the initiative) the state of Ohio's Department of Commerce has provided a list and map of approved Medical Marijuana dispensaries that is up to date: https://com.ohio.gov/divisions-and-programs/cannabis-control/about-dcc/licenses/what-we-do/medical-marijuana-dispensary-map

It all depends on which state you live in: In Virginia: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/virginia-governor-says-anyone-who-thinks-hell-sign-a-marijuana-sales-bill-must-be-smoking-something/? Use, possession and limited cultivation of cannabis by adults is already legal in Virginia, the result of a Democrat-led proposal approved by lawmakers in 2021. But Republicans, after winning control of the House and governor’s office later that year, subsequently blocked the required reenactment of a regulatory framework for retail sales. Since then, illicit stores have sprung up to meet consumer demand. On the other side, in Minnesota, Former Governor and wrestler Jesse Ventura: I guess Ohio falls somewhere in the middle between those two states? (info courtesy of Marijuana Moment, an online Cannabis media information blog)

Now, why don't I find that surprising? The legislative stalling tactics are literally costing the State's coffers millions in additional tax revenue. As everyone knows, the underground sources were around long before Ohio had a medical Marijuana program and bringing Marijuana out of the shadows of dark alleys and known drugs dens was a primary goal of the No. 2 initiative. Every day of delay only puts more money into the pockets of those criminals we're fighting to put out of business so that a legal market can flourish with government oversight and public scrutiny. Alcohol was once prohibited by law and all that it did was created criminal empires. The same needs to happen now with the voter approved Marijuana legalization initiative and the sooner. the better.

Marijuana THC% Potency being questioned One of the most controversial issues in Marijuana regulation pertains to THC levels. The flower of the Cannabis plant contains the highest concentration of the psychologically active ingredient. The popular theory being tossed around by so called pundits is that THC levels today are much higher than in the past and thus this makes today's Marijuana far stronger (and more "dangerous") than what was around in your Dad's day, thus requiring stricter legal caps on THC levels. This article, courtesy or Marijuana Moment, an online blog covering legal and legislative activities state by state as well as nationally and internationally, shows how flawed the potency cap proposals are: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/study-shows-colorado-marijuana-products-are-overstating-thc-potency-with-researcher-citing-possible-lab-fraud/? As I've stated many times, THC is an unstable organic compound because in nature the sticky THC resin the plant secretes around the flower, only lasts long enough for pollen to get captured and pollinate the female plant to produce seeds. After plants are harvested and dried, the flower buds are trimmed and packaged for sale and it goes along the supply chain until it is eventually sold to either a medical MJ patient or in places where legal adult use is permitted, to the consumer. A number of months have passed by this time since the flowers were harvested. Whatever THC levels are stated on the packaging, they are likely to be slightly overstated. If not kept in ideal (cold, dry) conditions, the THC levels will steadily continue to decline over time. As has been found in Colorado, the stated packaging THC levels were in some cases, grossly inflated. The cited study also used DEA historical data to compare THC levels in the past with current levels and found on average they were only 13% higher in THC content than the historic strains DEA tested for THC content. Of course, the detractors want to add this scare mongering myth of super potent marijuana being around today to counter arguments about how less dangerous a plant Marijuana is than was once thought. THC is not like alcohol content which can last for a remarkable long time (centuries even) in tightly sealed containers. 110 Proof fine Scotch will remain so indefinitely but no matter how potent Marijuana is claimed to be, chances are it would test out at a lower than stated THC level on the packaging. Among connoisseurs of Cannabis, potency is only one consideration as the plant is so complex that different people have different reactions to its effects. Many years ago, I used to visit a certain magazine shop that sold the magazine "High Times". One regular feature was written by a self described Connoisseur of Cannabis who would feature a different strain of MJ he sampled in each issue. He always waxed poetically about the examined strain's mental effects. At times reading it was rather comical but it foreshadowed the idea that someday Cannabis would be so socially acceptable that even sophisticated snobs would have something to say about it. We're much closer to their being a legitimized Marijuana social culture now than we were back then. Does anyone know if High Times is still being printed? I haven't seen an issue since the early 1990's. Side note: Moderators, please PM me if my contributions to this topic are offensive in any way, my only intent is to share publicly available information about what remains a controversial topic.

According to a TV news article from NBC Channel 4 in Columbus, https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/columbus/timeline-updated-for-recreational-marijuana-sales-in-ohio/ applications for permits to sell recreational Marijuana will be ready by June 7 and retail sales are expected to begin in September. The article mentions much of the delay is because the bill has yet to be approved by the Ohio House chamber but now that we're past the March elections, one spokesman opined the chances of its passage are improved. Doubtful the voters back in November expected a rollout of legal adult Marijuana sales would take this long but those are the facts being stated by authorities. In the meantime, the street sellers and Michigan pot shops continue to do a brisk business with Ohio consumers and the state is missing out on additional available tax revenue had swifter legislative action had been taken. Wondering how those doing their home grown thing ate doing? They will likely be the very first in Ohio to obtain legally cultivated Marijuana. Not sure if any tax would be collected for home grown or would tags/permits be required as commercial growers are required to do.

From I can find online, the best estimates suggest there actually have been many studies conducted around the Cannabis plant. Some were skewed or flawed because they solely set out to prove that some aspect of the plant was harmful. I don't think I'm being inaccurate by describing that Cannabis has no known lethal dosage level although depending on the potency, it can create anxiety and uneasiness in some people. I've tried to contribute to this thread because of my long experience with Cannabis. I wholeheartedly believe it fosters and stimulates creativity unlike alcohol, which dulls the senses. I've tried to share both pros and cons and let you decide where you stand based on the available information. I do think there are many misconceptions surrounding Marijuana. Any inhalation of smoke can be detrimental to your health. That's why the original Ohio Medical MJ program made it illegal to smoke unless a vaporizer was used. I do think the voter approved No 2 initiative is on the whole positive but deliberately or otherwise, the State's glacially slow rollout of sales only benefits those who the initiative was intended to put out of business. It doesn't seem to bother politicians over all of the tax revenue stream being missed because purchases made without a medical MJ license either have to come from out of state or from underground (illegal) sources. I urge the regulators to open up the legal supply the initiative was supposed to create. A small ray of hope is that those with green thumbs (or lots of dumb luck) can grow a few plants at home although they wouldn't be ripe for harvesting for several more months.

Unless they're Rastafarians and for them, Cannabis use is considered a sacrament in their religion. Weed gets blamed for everything wrong that's happened to Humankind since the beginning of time. Not surprisingly, the harshest critics are almost always those who have never taken a toke and would be terrified if somehow they had to. Cannabis is a convenient scapegoat because its been a societal boogeyman since the 1930's. I still can't get over the asinine arguments about potency, but again it's usually those who know little to nothing about Cannabis and it's effects who are most concerned. Those who feel a little too elevated after smoking just need to sit calmly and chill because usually within 1-3 hours the effects will have diminished almost entirely. An exception is edibles which take considerably longer to metabolize. As previously stated, THC is a natural organic compound that starts to break down the minute the plant is harvested. Anyone who's had Cannabis around for any length of time knows the potency declines fairly rapidly. It helps to keep it at freezing temps but that merely slows the breakdown, but doesn't stop it. The Ohio legal Cannabis limit by weight is set at 2.5 ounces (unless that too has changed?) but imagine if alcohol had weight limits? You'd go into a liquor store and might be told: "Only 22.5 pounds of beer are legally allowed, Sir, so please put down that extra six-pack and put the rest on the scale." Of course, alcoholic beverages are a liquid, so you could have a distillery's worth of Booze piled up in your basement and it would still be OK and legal. Then there's the addiction or dependency problem (the aforementioned esteemed anti-pot crusaders claimed we are a nation of addicts and applied that rationale to Pot) I have known people who did appear to have a dependency problem with Pot. Usually, they were younger (25 or under) and had a history of excessive consumption of alcohol as well as Pot. For my own sense of psychological well being, I periodically perform a Cannabis "stress test" where I totally abstain from any use for at least two weeks duration, occasionally longer. I did so ending last week and, as usual, my "party" time is reserved for weekends only. Remember the golden rule of consumption-moderation in all things. Even if I worked in a dispensary, I would never smoke and go to work-I've known some who did but under the influence they are more easily distracted and prone to (sometimes stupid) accidents. I think it's somewhat humorous to read about the medical benefits of Cannabis for treating female orgasmic disorders yet I've seen several articles on the topic in recent weeks. I also recall reading in the 1930's when politicians were looking for reasons to institute a Prohibition on Cannabis, one of the arguments being made was that it's use led to "loose" women and thus, was a threat to our nation's moral fabric. The Marijuana controversy won't go away anytime soon but perhaps in time a more educated, enlightened understanding will make it more acceptable. Poor little female Cannabis plants are secreting the sticky THC-rich resin so they can attract the male pollen and secure the next generation. One can only speculate what led to this but other plants produce fruit or flowers to help propagate their kind by them being beneficial to animals and humans for food. Cannabis's genetic playing card was to create sticky resin in their flowers with psychoactive effects that were attractive to animals and humans. A recent article from New Orleans cited that rats had invaded the basement evidence room at the local PD and according to the spokesperson, "The rats are high all of the time". Can't say I've ever seen a stoned rat. Have you?

As Cannabis-Pot-Weed legalization continues to spread across our country, two veteran anti-Drug crusaders, former U.S. Attorney General, William P. Barr (R) and former director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, J.P. Walters, (who worked under George Bush) Have written a familiar anti-marijuana legalization op-ed jointly for The Free Press, titled: Weed is Dangerous-Legalizing it was a Mistake. They compare and correlate the decline of America with Pot legalization. If solving all of this country's societal ills was so simple, why wasn't Pot causing the decline before it was made legal in many states? Be prepared for the same old scare tactics, weed scape-goating, stereotypes, and controversial arguments. Some things never seem to change... (article link courtesy of Marijuana Minute, an online advocacy blog) https://www.thefp.com/p/weed-is-dangerous-legalizing-mistake-barr

From the Marijuana Moment blog item: The Ohio Division of Cannabis Control says the rollout of recreational Marijuana is "on schedule" with sales to begin in June (Fox news 19 article) https://www.fox19.com/2024/03/07/head-ohio-cannabis-division-says-legal-sales-process-is-schedule/

I've seen no indication that our Ohio Medical Marijuana dispensaries intend to expand into recreational MJ sales anytime before mid Summer. A Pew Research study shared by the online blog Marijuana Minute revealed that, not surprisingly, the greatest proliferation and concentration of dispensaries appear to be in States bordering other states that are without legal Cannabis. At least for now in relation to Ohio, Michigan comes to mind and the map shows it. The article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/eight-in-ten-americans-have-a-marijuana-dispensary-in-their-county-and-shops-cluster-near-borders-with-illegal-states-pew-analysis-shows/?

More information is coming forth indicating the statewide recreational Cannabis market won't appear before 2026: https://www.cleveland19.com/2024/02/23/ohio-recreational-marijuana-update-sit-down-interview-with-superintendent-ohio-cannabis-control-division/ The key fact from the interview is: "New licenses for businesses solely focused on recreational marijuana won’t be issued until at least two years after the initial round goes to medical dispensaries." As a former Medical MJ patient, it looks like I'll need to renew my expired card which requires a new doctor's consultation and recommendation as well as re-registration, costing about $200, as I recall. Alternately, I could just skip the whole issue and not partake for a couple of years, but that was the whole purpose behind voting for initiative No. 2.. I refuse to seek out street MJ which can range in quality from being comparable to Med MJ to worse than ditch-weed. Such unknown sourced Cannabis could also contain adulterants and/or pesticide residues. A small positive change to note is the reduction of State Med MJ registration fees as noted in the email sent out by the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control-attached. But the State Med MJ registration fees have always been far less than the costs of a doctor's consultation-still, any reduction in Med MJ card fees is a positive. I'm also not aware of any changes in the medically qualifying conditions which in Ohio are fairly limited. Other states are fairly lax in their list of qualifying conditions for a patient to obtain Medical Cannabis. At least one I've seen was based solely on age. (65 and over) I've yet to see any loosening of the Ohio Medical qualifying rules. Looks like the only lower cost path for obtaining Cannabis may be to grow your own but for the added indoor equipment and supplies, the costs would be as much if not more than going the Medical MJ card route. At the State legislative level, it doesn't seem that anyone is in any hurry despite the obvious negative consequences of dragging out the supply issue problem for two years or longer. If there was more solid support at the legislative level, the whole issue could have been resolved within weeks, not years. It's been years since I've visited Michigan but I hear it's pretty nice and green around there in the Springtime.

There's a lot of frustration and dissatisfaction among those who thought the passage of the No. 2 initiative would quickly open up a legal adult Cannabis market in Ohio. I checked the dispensary where I used to purchase Med. MJ and it is still Medical Cannabis sales, only, with no date set for dual medical/recreational sales to begin. Even Governor Dewine would like to see the matter settled and put into effect, but things continue to drag on. This addition of 200-250 (why not an exact number based on how many "10-B" business permits are decided upon?) in the "blink of an eye" means little except that it will likely be September or even later before they are distributed and then it will take more time for the new dispensaries to open, and for existing Medical Cannabis dispensaries to add more inventory and staff to accommodate new non-medical customers. As it appears right now, only those growing their own plants have much of a chance to see the fruits of their labor before the end of 2024. (probably should have gone to the growers market event in Cleveland last weekend) Here's the current situation update: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/top-ohio-democratic-senator-says-house-gop-failure-to-speed-up-marijuana-sales-is-a-disservice-to-voters/?

Of particular interest to Women...honestly, I can't make this stuff up. Medical Marijuana is now being considered at the State level as an approved treatment for Female Orgasmic Difficulty Disorder (FOD) so if approved, Cannabis availability may lead to sexual bliss for some women: https://med.ohio.gov/about-the-board/communications/news/medical-board-considers-new-qualifying-conditions-2024 Cannabis has long been associated with having libido effects on both genders. The Ohio State Medical Board is asking for input from citizens and medical/scientific professionals regarding adding Cannabis as a recognized treatment for F.O.D. and Autism Spectrum Disorder. I could make some comments based on personal experience about the aphrodisiac effects of Cannabis but there are probably others who could make a better case than I could.

Very true., but that is the same mindset that put Cannabis on Schedule I of the DEA's harmful drugs list right up there with Fentanyl and Heroin. Perhaps some may remember a daycare in NYC where opioids were being stashed and distributed out of a Daycare facility, Some curious toddlers found the stash and one child did overdoes and die. (from Fentanyl) If one is an older Law Enforcement officer, he or she will remember the decades long war on drugs. Pot, though recognized for some time as less harmful than some other known addictive drugs, was still considered dangerous and life threatening. The ultimate demonstration of ignorance about Cannabis was on full display in the 1930's movie Reefer Madness. Over the years, I've seen more people than I can count cop a Cannabis buzz and not a single one acted like any of the characters in that movie. Instead of looking laid back and relaxed, the buffoon characters were "amped" up like they were on Meth and carrying through with that charade, they predictably turned violently agitated and psychotic. On a 60 Minutes Sunday news program several years ago that looked into the the phenomenon of Cannabis lounges in Colorado, I will never forget an interview with the proprietor who had owned a liquor bar beforehand and he was asked would he prefer a liquor clientele in his establishment or a Cannabis clientele. Without hesitation, he said the Cannabis crowd. He explained that the difference was obvious at the end of the day: In the liquor environment, things could get rowdy and even fights would break out and police would have to be summoned. The alcohol consuming clients were sloppy and often left behind a mess to be cleaned up. The Cannabis clientele, on the other hand, were far less rowdy (unless they had been drinking too) and left behind far less of a mess with some even asking if they could help clean up around their area before going home. Legal recreational Pot is a new phenomenon in Ohio and there's still a lot of ignorance and uncertainties about Cannabis in general among the Law Enforcement community and legislators which leads to comments like children being at risk of death from accidental pot ingestion. I think if you were to go around all of the hospitals in the state and request statistics on the numbers of direct fatal Marijuana "overdoses", they would sheepishly say, well, none, actually. That should not be interpreted as Cannabis being safe for kids or minors, period. Medicinal extracts from the Cannabis plant (such as CBD Oil) have been shown to be helpful in treating children with seizures and epilepsy and are allowed in most states, even Texas, although still highly restricted. The road from considering the plant physically dangerous and addictive to socially acceptable and recognized for what it actually is, remains long and arduous. Perhaps a hopeful sign of changing Ohio attitudes was the question posed to the Sheriff in the aforementioned interview when asked if a person was arrested and found to have Cannabis in their possession would it be confiscated or not? The answer was interesting-if the amount taken during the arrest was under the 2.5 ounce state legal limit, it would be returned to the individual upon release. Now that's a sure sign the times are a-changin'.

Stark County Sheriff answers Recreational Marijuana questions from a Law Enforcement perspective From the Canton Repository: https://www.yahoo.com/news/whats-legal-stark-sheriffs-office-151816272.html Good read- I learned a few things and got answers to several questions.

Cannabis Farmers Market This Weekend in Cleveland Although the weekend wintry forecast may make things a bit dicey, a solution to the grow-your-own in Ohio dilemma may be at hand: https://fox8.com/news/cannabis-farmers-market-in-cleveland-this-weekend/ The unanswered question about how adult individuals can grow (legally up to six plants) Pot/Cannabis/Marijuana without access to seeds has been addressed as the event announcement indicates that growing supplies, seeds, and perhaps germinated seedlings may be available. Growing good quality Cannabis isn't easy-it takes an optimum combination of lights, nutrients and growing conditions to grow good Cannabis. Admission to the event is stated as $15 per (adult) person. I hope if any Forumers can go, that they would be willing to share what went on and what they learned. Personally, I'm also wondering since the status and nature of this topic has changed in the two years since it was created if it shouldn't be moved to a different category about Ohio culture and lifestyle as the political aspects have changed markedly since the No. 2 initiative was approved by voters last year. Have a pleasant 420 weekend!

WCBE 90.5 FM Columbus has a 28 minute podcast about the guidelines and framework the state is considering for implementation of the Measure 2 initiative: https://www.wcbe.org/podcast/protecting-what-matters/2024-02-12/non-medical-marijuana-breaking-down-ohios-first-set-of-proposed-rules The current recommendation is for those patients qualifying for Ohio Medical Marijuana to continue keeping their prescription licenses in effect until non-medical availability improves. Not surprisingly, the Cannabis sales numbers from Michigan in January alone: "Michigan retailers sold $242.8 million worth of legal marijuana products in January." (source: Marijuana Moment Blog) The Michigan Pot shops should have an Ohio customer appreciation sale week with discounts for Ohio customers. Meanwhile, back in Columbus...

Wondering here if any of the other states (23 in additional to Ohio) that legalized adult use of Marijuana had such a long and convoluted rollout as is shaping up in Ohio? The legal conundrum of Pot being legal in our State without outlets to legally purchase it, is confusing, to say the least. It is also legal in Ohio to grow up to six plants but do State guidelines provide any citizen information or recommendations about home cultivation? Where is one supposed to (legally) obtain seeds of chosen desirable plant strains? I personally object to outdoor cultivation at home on several grounds. (enticement for minors and/or thieves, accidental spread of seeds to neighbors) Moreover, potency levels for home grown Marijuana is unknown which goes back to how asinine it is to try to regulate THC potency levels. I've stated this fact before, THC is an organic compound and begins to break down and become inert after harvesting. I noted that some medical MJ purchased last October had package dates of April of last year meaning that it was already six months old at the time of purchase. Now, the small amount remaining is over 10 months old and despite being kept under freezing storage, has unquestionably lost potency. It's not at all like alcohol which, if stored properly, can even last for decades while still retaining it's alcohol content. In summary, Marijuana doesn't improve with age. The inability of the State legislature to finalize and implement the passing of Issue 2 is doing no one any favors. (except possibly those who opposed Issue 2) Representative Juanita Brent (D) opined: (Marijuana Moment, an online Blog on the topic: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/ohio-lawmaker-warns-colleagues-they-risk-losing-reelection-for-undermining-voter-approved-marijuana-legalization-law/? "An Ohio lawmaker is warning colleagues that passing legislation to undermine voters’ decision to legalize marijuana in the state will jeopardize their reelection prospects—specifically cautioning against proposals to redirect tax revenue to law enforcement. Rep. Juanita Brent (D)—who has previously emphasized the need to involve people who’ve been disproportionately impacted by cannabis criminalization in the legalization implementation process—spoke about the politics of marijuana policy in the legislature during a panel organized by the Ohio State University Drug Enforcement and Policy Center last week. With a primary election in Ohio coming up next month, Brent said that “if we go against the people in the state of Ohio, I don’t expect any of us to get reelected because we are not going for what the people want.” Indications are that legal Marijuana will not be available statewide until almost the end of this year. Michigan Pot shops and various street level "entrepreneurs" should rejoice over that. I recall out on the West Coast there were boutique type businesses that sold indoor growing supplies- can we expect to see those businesses spring up in Ohio? Again, shouldn't there be some State guidelines for safe indoor home cultivation? Households with young children should be particularly careful about home cultivation because young children of a certain age are known to put almost anything in their mouths. Deer and livestock also love the Cannabis' plant's taste. In the end, if everything is carefully considered and then even more carefully implemented, there should be no more controversy over legal Marijuana sales in Ohio than there is with alcohol sales. The current delay is grudgingly acceptable provided the State takes this extra time to get everything right. I did see a new Marijuana leaf decal on a local liquor business entry door but decided not to ask the proprietors about it. I suspect it was for some kind of Delta 8 THC infused product which fits into a grey legal area in some states without legal Marijuana containing Delta 9 THC.

Pennsylvania is "losing" to "friggin" Ohio?

If the Pot was obtained from illegal sources, although not likely, it could be possible. Hard drug pushers are always looking for new clients as they lose customers from overdoses. The State of Ohio can be proud of the way Medical Marijuana has been regulated and controlled in our State. All Med. MJ products are carefully tested, clearly labeled as to their contents and THC percentages, and their origins/growers are identified. As for those addicted to Opioids, getting their next fix is all that matters, not adding or mixing it with Marijuana. Old stereotypes and classic scare tactics are still alive and well. The expected tax revenues from legal Marijuana adult sales can and should be used to treat Opioid addiction which is a real problem state-wide and nationally. Just my two cents worth...

The State of Ohio has just published the Medical Marijuana number totals about the Cannabis industry in our state: https://com.ohio.gov/divisions-and-programs/cannabis-control/licensee-resources/what-we-do/mmcp-program-update I saw the revenue dollar totals and if I were a legislator, I would probably be ecstatic about the potential state tax revenues from this industry: Sales Figures (as of 1/22/2024) 228,948 lbs. of plant material 20,866,653 units of manufactured product $1.65 billion in product sales 13,582,665 total receipts Plant Sales Average - $17.41 per 1/10oz Plant Sales Average - $6.15 per gram Manufactured Sales Average - $27.82 per unit One billion, six hundred, and sixty five million dollars (this is an official state tally) in sales? I'm wondering how that compares to liquor sales in our State? Keep in mind those totals are only from Medical Marijuana sales-once Ohio retail options become available I would expect the total sales would be double that figure, if not more. There are still those in State government who want to nip legalized recreational Marijuana in the bud (pun intended) but in doing so, they may be killing the proverbial goose laying the golden egg. Worth keeping in mind is that until Medical Marijuana was made legal in Ohio a couple of years ago, all of this money was going into the underground economy, including foreign criminal drug cartels.

Despite falling off the front page news, efforts to implement the provisions of the No. 2 initiative continue at the State House level. The online national legislative tracking blog, Marijuana Moment, shares the latest in this drawn out effort to make Cannabis legal for adult consumption in our State: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/ohio-officials-release-first-proposed-marijuana-licensing-rules-amid-push-for-expedited-adult-use-sales/? "Ohio Rep. Juanita Brent (D) has emphasized that people who’ve been criminalized over marijuana, as well as those with industry experience, should be involved in any efforts to amend the state’s voter-approved legalization law, arguing that it shouldn’t be left up to “anti-cannabis” legislators alone to revise the statute." I think those who voted in favor of the initiative, were expecting a quicker rollout and implementation but reversing and revising old Prohibition laws going back to the 1930's, takes time. The state is positioned to receive enhanced revenue from Cannabis sales but that revenue is now going to underground or out of state suppliers which is the exact opposite of what the voter initiative intended. With Ohio being the 24th state to legalize adult Cannabis sales and consumption, there are many other states with legal Cannabis laws that can be used for comparison and legal precedents. I would hope by mid-Summer that Ohio has an up and running Cannabis retail/recreational market. As far as I know, it's now legal to grow the plants but specific guidelines have yet to be decided upon. I do foresee in the future, folks may read this (dated) discussion thread and will wonder what all of the fuss was about.

Today I read an interesting article citing a study that found Cannabis/Marijuana could lessen the impact of Covid 19: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/cannabis-holds-potential-to-prevent-and-reduce-severity-of-covid-19-while-treating-long-term-symptoms-study-finds/? The source seems to be factually based and not speculative, although by it's name, Marijuana Moment, I couldn't consider it entirely unbiased. Apparently; all of the details in the Ohio House version of the No. 2 initiative becoming law haven't yet been agreed upon in the over two months since the measure was passed. An effort was put into writing the measure, to make it unambiguous and uncomplicated, but the legislative actions to this point have been anything but uncomplicated. It didn't have to be this way, IMO. An Ohio state Cannabis "Czar" has been appointed who prior to taking over these duties, was responsible for administering Alcohol regulation. That development is aligned with the intent and language of the original No 2 measure so hopefully in the end, (whenever the state House version is agreed upon and approved by vote) Cannabis will be treated, taxed, and regulated, as Alcohol has been in Ohio for decades.