Ohio GOP Wants to Ban Delta-9 Products

 

State Sen. Steve Huffman, R-Tipp City, introduced a bill that would ban the sale of intoxicating hemp products in Ohio.

 

The Republican lawmaker introduced Senate Bill 326 on Thursday. State lawmakers are set to return to the Ohio Statehouse next week for the start of lame duck. 

 

S.B. 326 defines intoxicating hemp products as containing more than 0.5 of a milligram of delta-9 THC per serving, two milligrams of delta-9 THC per package, or 0.5 of a milligram of total non-delta-9 THC per package, according to the bill’s language.

 

“This act is hereby declared to be an emergency measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety,” the bill said. “The reason for such necessity is to protect Ohioans, especially Ohio’s youth, from untested, unregulated dangerous tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products. Therefore, this act shall go into immediate effect.”

 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/ohio-gop-wants-to-ban-delta-9-products-ocj1/

 

Ohio’s New Speaker of the House Promises to Undo Cannabis Legalization

 

Huffman’s leadership approach signals a significant shift for Ohio. His priorities include restricting marijuana policies, including making recreational marijuana illegal. Huffman says he believes voters were misinformed when they approved legalization. He has previously proposed revisiting the policy to drastically limit THC levels in products.

Party of the people and small government, am I right?

The toothpaste is out of the tube at this point. If they try to roll back cannabis, it's going to hurt them politically, so maybe they should try.

 

Meanwhile, in my town of Harrison, we're getting two new dispensaries to take advantage of our proximity to Indiana.

1 hour ago, JaceTheAce41 said:

Party of the people and small government, am I right?

The toothpaste is out of the tube at this point. If they try to roll back cannabis, it's going to hurt them politically, so maybe they should try.

 

Hey I am sure this guys policy ideas have a lot of support....from dispensaries in Michigan. 

The GOP Nanny State strikes again.

 

We'll see if they can garner enough votes. I think it's possible they'll change the current system, I doubt they get the votes to fully repeal recreational marijuana.

I don't think they'll have the votes to change anything. A lot of tax money is flowing in and new businesses are popping up. The municipalities that don't want pot in their town have already banned it. I think this will wind up being a nothingburger but culture warriors still have to make headlines.

Yeah this isn't like the "make every church a school" school voucher bill where Appalachian Ohio is fully on board. It's mostly just the west of I-75 Bible Belt and the Amish that really want legal weed gone.

I don't know, when even a very small city like Painesville requires rules and regulations this Byzantine for a particular industry maybe it's not really worth the effort. I suspect most other municipalities have adopted similarly restrictive guidelines (the map below show the absurdity of this in a small town). But are they enforced?

"New businesses that sell vaping or e-cigarette products in Painesville City cannot open within 500 feet of schools, churches, parks or other facilities that sell vaping or e-cigarette products, according to the new rules.

 

Stores that sell vaping products also cannot operate in standalone buildings or advertise those products with flashing or electronic lights. They must operate within hours set by the planning commission.

 

New vaping stores are limited to properties zoned B-2 General Business, and they need a conditional use permit from the city. The B-2 zoning designation includes a number of properties just north of the city’s downtown on Erie and Richmond streets, as well as scattered properties in other parts of the city, according to Painesville’s 2016 zoning map."

 

I actually kind of like the "No operating in standalone buildings" rule but would apply it to all businesses rather than just the ones listed.

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.

22 minutes ago, John S. said:

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.

You know how Republicans feel about business regulation, right?  Huffman must have been joking.

On 11/26/2024 at 1:02 PM, Foraker said:

You know how Republicans feel about business regulation, right?  Huffman must have been joking.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ohioans Spent Nearly $250 Million on Legal Marijuana in 2024

 

Ohio recreational marijuana sales surpassed $242 million as 2024 came to a close.

 

The state’s total recreational marijuana sales were $242,167,020, as of Dec. 28, according to the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Cannabis Control. 

 

There have been 4,007,128 units of manufactured products that have been sold and 32,487 pounds of plant material, according to the department. 

 

Recreational sales began in August, about nine months after Ohioans voted to legalize recreational marijuana.

 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/ohioans-spent-nearly-250-million-on-legal-marijuana-in-2024-ocj1/

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.

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:  

 

    

1 hour ago, John S. said:

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:  

 

    

 

It means he didn't have the votes.

 

Thank God.   I'm not a big fan of the referendum process because those who vote for it don't have to implement it, but it's long past time to legalize a substance which never should have been banned to begin with.

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.

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. 

^About that...

 

More Tax, Less THC: Republican Lawmaker Wants to Revise Ohio’s Marijuana Law

 

A Republican lawmaker is trying to reduce the amount of marijuana grown at home, lower the level of THC in recreational marijuana, increase the tax, and redirect the revenue from it.

 

Ohio Sen. Steve Huffman, R-Tipp City, recently introduced Senate Bill 56 which would make several changes to the state’s marijuana laws. 

 

“This bill is about government efficiency, consumer and child safety, and maintaining access to voter-approved adult-use marijuana,” Huffman said in his sponsor testimony last week. 

 

Ohioans voters passed a citizen-initiated law to legalize recreational marijuana in 2023 and sales started in August 2024. Since it was passed as a citizen initiative, Ohio lawmakers have the ability to change the law.

 

The state’s total recreational marijuana sales were $292,874,669 as of Jan. 25, according to the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Cannabis Control.

 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/more-tax-less-thc-republican-lawmaker-wants-to-revise-ohios-marijuana-law-ocj1/

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.

 

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)

Republicans really can't stand democracy can they. We voted for MJ, we agreed to a certain tax, etc. but they can't help themselves and are trying to screw with it. They'll do the same with abortion soon.

Evil is, evil does.

The party of big government once again blatantly ignoring the whole "treat it the same as alcohol" mandate from the voters.  

Hamilton County, Anderson Township officials blast state’s potential raid of marijuana money

 

Hamilton County and Anderson Township officials criticized a state proposal to strip marijuana tax revenue from local governments and instead send it to Ohio’s general fund, saying a Senate bill defies the will of the voters who legalized recreational cannabis use in 2023.

 

The state law voters passed requires that the tax revenue from marijuana sales be shared with local governments. Senate Bill 56, legislation proposed by state Sen. Steve Huffman, R-Tipp City, would increase the tax from 10% to 15% and divert all of the revenue to the state.

 

On Thursday, Feb. 13, Hamilton County commissioners voted unanimously to oppose the bill, and Anderson Township Administrator Vicky Earhart said it would hurt the township’s ability to cut property taxes.

 

“We want to stand with you and say something was promised and you deserve what was promised,” said Denise Driehaus, one of three members of the all-Democrat commission.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/02/18/ohio-marijuana-money-hamilton-county-anderson.html

 

21 hours ago, JaceTheAce41 said:

Republicans really can't stand democracy can they. We voted for MJ, we agreed to a certain tax, etc. but they can't help themselves and are trying to screw with it. They'll do the same with abortion soon.

 

Jace, that seems to be the case.  A provision in the original Ohio Marijuana bill was to allocate and share revenue funds from the sale of products with municipalities where the dispensaries are located. The current SB56 147-page document diverts the revenue funds to the State, not to the municipalities where the dispensaries are located. Sen. Huffman proposes taking the revenue funds to build more jails and train law enforcement officers leaving the dispensary communities out of the revenue stream. With the current political realities in this country, there's been some Republican push-backs against Cannabis and legalization efforts in general. Trump was on record as saying he supported Cannabis legalization in Florida when that proposal was up for the voters to decide. It went down in defeat even though a majority voted in favor of legalization but did not meet the required 60% passage threshold. Once Trump was elected, he appoints a staunch Marijuana prohibitionist to run the DEA. Efforts to allow Cannabis businesses to use the banking system have stalled mainly because the DEA's rescheduling and reclassification for Cannabis from a Schedule I Controlled substance to a Schedule III classification (meaning Cannabis is recognized as having some medical benefits) was stalled and drawn out to the end of the Biden administration. Now, no one seems to be pressuring the DEA to finalize rescheduling and it seems doubtful it will ever happen, at least for the next four years. I think the best those of us who voted in favor of legalization can hope for is to not have a rollback to Cannabis being re-criminalized. One of the perceived benefits of legalization was to drive the underground Marijuana operators out of business. Ironically, adding more taxes, putting potency caps, and reducing home grow privileges, only aids the criminal enterprises and keeps them in business. These days, it's sometime hard to see who the good guys are-everything is about money, not conscience.

Stephen Huffman's Bill (SB56) to add restrictions and penalties to Ohio's existing Marijuana laws was passed in the Senate and sent to the State House for approval: (article courtesy of Marijuana Moment)   https://www.marijuanamoment.net/ohio-senators-approve-bill-to-scale-back-voter-approved-marijuana-legalization-law-by-reducing-home-grow-and-adding-new-penalties/ Among the items in the bill (SB56)  reducing the number of allowed home grows and reduced potency caps were included although raising taxes was moved to be reviewed and amended under broader State Budget legislation. Senator Huffman was quoted as saying: “Senate Bill 56 is a great bill because it’s reasonable, appropriate, it cuts down on the illicit marijuana market and it’s truly about protection and safety of children,” Huffman said on the floor, adding that “we have never known exactly why the voters voted for the initiated statute.”

 

The ACLU of Ohio countered by advising Ohio voters to contact their legislators and ask that the voter approved legalization initiative (No. 2) not be altered contrary to the voters' wishes. It seems likely though that Sen. Huffman's bill will be passed and signed into law by the State House. Gov. Dewine has already said he'll sign SB 56 when it reaches his desk. Sad that something this simple became a political football and part of a GOP broader effort to restrict civil liberties via legislation. Illicit drug suppliers will surely be happy about these more restrictive changes as they make their products more attractive to consumers. Sen. Huffman's "It's truly about protection and safety of children" makes little sense within the parameters of an already highly regulated adult use Cannabis market in Ohio which appears to be running smoothly and efficiently. Of course, the recriminalization of Cannabis possession and use in Ohio appears to be the ultimate GOP goal.

^ How does this cut down the illicit marijuana market? And in this context what does that word "illicit" even mean exactly? 

It doesn't. It effectively raises the price of the legal product thereby increasing the demand for the illegal product.

1 hour ago, GCrites said:

It doesn't. It effectively raises the price of the legal product thereby increasing the demand for the illegal product.

 

Would it surprise anyone if some shady illegal grow/sell operations were financing these idiots? Or Anheuser Bush? Or the Michigan marijuana industry?

 

Idiots.

 

This will absolutely lead to more consumers crossing state lines into Michigan to avoid Ohio's dumb taxes. 

I do know that Michigan produced too much product and have heard that they had to dispose of some of it. There is speculation that some it could have wound up on the black market but I have no proof of that.

2 hours ago, GCrites said:

It doesn't. It effectively raises the price of the legal product thereby increasing the demand for the illegal product.

 

You nailed it! You don't have to be a State Senator to know that.

33 minutes ago, GCrites said:

I do know that Michigan produced too much product and have heard that they had to dispose of some of it. There is speculation that some it could have wound up on the black market but I have no proof of that.

 Last year, I did visit a dispensary in Buchanan, MI and the prices for Med MJ were about half of what they were at Ohio dispensaries. To pounce upon the legal Cannabis market in Ohio just a few months after sales began can only be seen as a hostile move to cripple the new legal market. Some minor tweaking or fine tuning might be acceptable but from my perspective this is a thinly veiled attempt to roll back the will of Ohio voters. Informing them that politicians know better what's good for them than they do, is disingenuous. Trying to bring children into the mix is a cheap scare tactic-ads aren't allowed by dispensaries, every dispensary in Ohio cards everyone before they can enter and,unlike some states, the Cannabis buyer can't even view the product before purchasing it. Children/minors cannot even enter dispensaries with an adult. Besides, anyone with a minimum of street smarts knows that adolescents can easily tap into the illegal market but eliminating or curtailing the underground market was one of the key objectives of voter initiative No 2. I'm sure Senator Huffman is an honorable man and he's entitled to personally be a Cannabis prohibitionist but trying to strangle an emerging industry and legal market in Ohio makes little sense. Better to direct those efforts in the war to keep Fentanyl off the streets or make the quasi legal hemp products at convenience stores and smoke shops conform to the same stringent regulations as Cannabis products. As I already stated, this bill (SB56) is likely to be passed and signed into law. but for those who voted for Initiative No.2, it's big step backwards, in my opinion.

DeWine is ignorant. Remember he thinks fentanyl is in marijuana…despite there being virtually no evidence of that. It’s statistically more likely to be in a potato salad but hey, we have politicians from the 1950’s running the show. 

Ohio Democrat legislators push back against GOP's restrictive SB56 Bill

 

(article courtesy of The Ohio Senate webpage)  https://ohiosenate.gov/members/paula-hicks-hudson/news/hicks-hudson-condemns-marijuana-changes-that-subvert-will-of-the-people      State Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) released the following statement after the passage of Senate Bill 56, which overhauls the adult-use recreational marijuana laws that the majority of Ohioans voted to approve in 2023. 

“It amazes me when the proponents of Senate Bill 56 say that the citizens ‘don’t know what they voted for,’” said Hicks-Hudson. “It amazes me when facts are manipulated to reach a false conclusion. What was voted on by Ohio voters is again being ignored by the majority members. Regardless of whether you support or don’t support adult-use marijuana, this legislation flagrantly disregards the voice of the people. Majority members continue to trample on the will of voters, disrespecting their basic rights as citizens of Ohio.”

 

The Ohio Senate Bill (SB56) has already passed the Senate and is now in the House where it is expected to pass and sent to the Governor's desk to be signed and put into law.  Red States (with GOP majorities) are part of the Republican nationwide effort towards more restrictive authoritarian control over citizens at the Federal and State levels. The old adage "if it ain't broke, don't try to fix it" is being ignored. The Democrat model of big Government is now being replaced by a repressive GOP Big Brother with watchful eyes.

8 hours ago, surfohio said:

DeWine is ignorant. Remember he thinks fentanyl is in marijuana…despite there being virtually no evidence of that. It’s statistically more likely to be in a potato salad but hey, we have politicians from the 1950’s running the show. 

If there's Fentanyl in Marijuana, it didn't come from legal sources.  Instead of supporting this new legal Cannabis market which is feeding millions of dollars into the State coffers, the (GOP led) politicians are trying to strangle it out of existence. The lessons of alcohol prohibition, which existed from 1920 to 1933, have apparently been forgotten. Prohibition gave rise to criminal syndicates, bootleggers, bathtub Gin, and Speak-easies. Tightening existing regulations on Cannabis or recriminalizing it, will have the same effect.

^ I respectfully disagree. They aren't trying to strangle it out of existence, but rather weaponize it to their advantage. They want more laws that normal people will break every day, more police interactions, more prosecutions, mandatory jail sentences and more money directed towards their pet law enforcement rackets.  These people are Idiots but they're not stupid; they are woefully corrupt and they know exactly what they're doing. 

They definitely don't like that cops can't do anything when they smell marijuana.

2 hours ago, surfohio said:

^ I respectfully disagree. They aren't trying to strangle it out of existence, but rather weaponize it to their advantage. They want more laws that normal people will break every day, more police interactions, more prosecutions, mandatory jail sentences and more money directed towards their pet law enforcement rackets.  These people are Idiots but they're not stupid; they are woefully corrupt and they know exactly what they're doing. 

I think essentially you're right and that ties in with your earlier statement about a nostalgic yearning to return to the 1950's when law and order were maintained, sometimes brutally. That said, I still think the longer term goal is to recriminalize Cannabis/Marijuana. How much of that is driven by corruption or a wish for a police state where the slightest infraction or protest against the powers that be can result in  harsh long term punishments, remains to be determined. In Texas, (where I moved to Ohio from) until the 1970's, possession of any amount of Marijuana could get you up to 99 years in a State penitentiary. When the sons and daughters of some State politicians in liberal cultured Austin were busted with Pot, the laws were changed from a felony to a misdemeanor. However, even today possession of Pot can land you in jail in the Lone Star State. They have allowed a very limited Medical Marijuana program that restricts THC content to non-psychoactive levels but adult use legalization still seems a long way off in Texas. 

 

Ohio seemed to be doing everything right with it's Medical Marijuana program and I've observed few complaints voiced about the program. Ohio followed the path towards general legalization with some other states by allowing a voter initiative to pass in late 2023 but the voter approved market had a slow rollout and really didn't come into existence until last June. (well documented in this topic thread) Perhaps strangle was an incorrect term, but placing adverse changes into the existing law (from a consumer's perspective) isn't beneficial in establishing a healthy smooth running legal Cannabis market. Taxes on Cannabis sales are increasing in many states currently most likely because the Federal dollars coming from Washington to the states are expected to decline under the current administration. Cannabis legalization was supposed to be a non-partisan issue but in our politically polarized society, as you stated, the weaponization of almost every issue appears to be underway. Time will tell how all of this plays out.

Ohio GOP Advancing Law to Make Marijuana Illegal to use in Public

 

Ohio Senate Republicans passed a bill Wednesday that would make significant changes to the marijuana law passed by Ohio voters in 2023, including reducing allowable levels of THC, limiting home grow, and making it illegal to buy and bring back across state lines.

 

Senate Bill 56 passed by a 23-9 party line vote and will now go to the Ohio House for consideration. 

 

“Senate Bill 56 is a great bill because it’s reasonably appropriate,” said the bill’s author state Sen. Steve Huffman, R-Tipp City. “It cuts down on the illicit marijuana market and it’s truly about protection and safety of children.”

 

The bill would limit Ohio’s home grow from 12 plants down to six, reduce the THC levels in adult-use marijuana extracts from a maximum of 90% down to a maximum of 70%, and mandates that marijuana can only be used in a private residence. 

 

“You can get 600 joints a year out of the plant,” Huffman said. “That seems like an excessive amount.”

 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/ohio-gop-advancing-law-to-make-marijuana-illegal-to-use-in-public-ocj1/

First, how would an admitted marijuana prohibitionist know how many "joints" could be created from the material of a single plant?  Medical Marijuana patients are already prohibited by law from smoking joints or using Bongs or pipes. Vaporizers are the only legally approved devices for Cannabis consumption by medical patients. Then, lets take a look at Sen. Huffman's statement: -said the bill’s author state Sen. Steve Huffman, R-Tipp City. “It cuts down on the illicit marijuana market". How does his bill accomplish that? By making conditions less favorable for legal adult use consumers? Water doesn't flow uphill and when everything is said and done, imposing tougher restrictions and limitations on Ohio's nascent legal Cannabis market is not going to have any adverse effects on the illicit market. By it's nature, the illicit market is totally unregulated as well as being illegal. In that unregulated market, there are no protections for consumers, with adulterations and contaminates unknown. The quasi legal Delta 8 and Hemp products sold at retailers do have some minimal level of oversight by distributors, but the back alley traded variety, since it's already illegal, carries no protections or guarantees but it does have one advantage over the legal product, it's cheaper.

 

Presently, the legal Cannabis market is pumping millions of dollars in fees and taxes into the State coffers. How many are thinking about the on-going Federal budget changes that may reduce or eliminate agricultural subsidies to Ohio farmers? Millions of dollars in proposed Medicaid cuts will also impact the State budget.  I see the next four years as being lean years for State budgets across the nation as Federal dollars dry up. Ohio farmers will also be adversely impacted by the just imposed tariffs on agricultural products as well as manufacturing companies using auto components. The legal Cannabis market in Ohio is likely to stay even or perhaps grow slightly during an economic downturn so from a State revenue perspective, it makes more common sense to support this new source for State funds rather than trying to squelch it with added restrictions and higher costs.  As I understand it, State Bill 56 is now in the House under review and I hope legislators there will recognize the negative aspects of this bill and not allow it to go to the Governor's desk without evaluating all of the ramifications of this one-sided bill and, if possible, changing some of the cited objections to the provisions in the Bill.  Failing to do so will definitely NOT cut down on the illicit Marijuana market, as Sen. Huffman asserts that it will.

Ohio Senate Bill 86 Goes After "Intoxicating" Hemp Products

 

State Senator Steve Huffman, the most active opponent of Cannabis and Hemp deregulation, has sponsored a new bill (SB86) to put restrictions on the unregulated Hemp products (most containing Delta 8 THC rather than the legal, regulated Detla 9, THC from Cannabis) sold at gas stations and convenience stores.  A Cleveland dot com article  explains:   https://www.cleveland.com/news/2025/03/senate-republicans-move-to-restrict-sales-of-delta-8-cbd-products.html       Governor DeWine has cited concerns about the proliferation of unregulated Hemp products and derivatives being sold and he's asked for legislation to place it under State regulation. Some states are seeking to ban "intoxicating Hemp" products entirely.

House GOP Version of revised Marijuana Bill under review

 

Ohio House representative Brian Stewart, (R) chairman of the House Finance Committee, has introduced a 120-page revised bill as an alternative to the State Senate Bill (SB56). Article courtesy of Marijuana Moment, an online national blog covering Cannabis issues: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/ohio-gop-lawmaker-files-bill-to-revise-voter-approved-marijuana-law-with-less-sweeping-changes-than-senate-passed-measure/?

The House version preserves the original number (12) of Cannabis plants allowed by household in the voter approved No. 2 initiative. Like the Senate bill, it puts a potency caps on THC extracts to a maximum of 70% reduced from the now legal 90%. The total number of dispensaries allowed in Ohio in both bills are capped at 350 dispensaries. The House bill also addresses Hemp and Hemp derivative products now sold at convenience stores and gas stations making any Hemp product containing more than 0.03% THC (Delta 8 and Delta 9) only salable at licensed dispensaries. The proposed House bill also does not impose consumption restrictions solely to a private residence and making any outdoor consumption, even in one's backyard, illegal. The issue of increased taxes isn't in the bill because Gov. DeWine has stated he will raise taxes on Cannabis products sold through dispensaries to 20% (from the current 10%) through the State Budget reconciliation process and the House bill doesn't change that. The House Bill also has a 20% tax revenue sharing allotment going to municipalities that allow dispensaries within their borders which was not in the Senate Bill (SB56)

 

The takeaway from this new bill and the Senate bill is that Ohio GOP legislators want to discourage legal Cannabis consumption by way of diluting and capping THC levels, reducing or eliminating Home Grow rights, increasing taxes which increases the prices consumers pay (always in cash) at dispensaries and making public Cannabis consumption illegal.  More lenient States restrict outdoor Cannabis consumption to the same specified areas where tobacco products can be smoked. A couple of States have approved licenses for so-called Marijuana lounges. Like it or not, outdoor musical concerts have traditionally been venues where public Cannabis smoking occurs and a couple of States now allow Cannabis "Festivals" where public smoking of Cannabis is permitted. Michigan even allows roadside billboards promoting such festivals but highly doubtful those will ever occur in the Buckeye State.

If the Ohio legislature passes a bill to further restrict what Ohio voters previously passed, couldn't Ohio voters gather signatures and force it onto the ballot as a referendum as we did with Issue 2 in 2011 (blocking HB5)?

 

I mean, it sucks that it would have to come to that, but it would send the message to the legislature loud and clear: we passed this, stop messing with it.

23 hours ago, taestell said:

If the Ohio legislature passes a bill to further restrict what Ohio voters previously passed, couldn't Ohio voters gather signatures and force it onto the ballot as a referendum as we did with Issue 2 in 2011 (blocking HB5)?

 

I mean, it sucks that it would have to come to that, but it would send the message to the legislature loud and clear: we passed this, stop messing with it.

It is A LOT of work to get a citizen referendum passed. That’s why we don’t have many of them. My opinion is that we need to focus all of our referendum efforts into a new anti-gerrymandering amendment, as that will enable the Statehouse to function properly and get every other key issue an honest debate in the Statehouse itself. 

On 3/7/2025 at 12:03 PM, taestell said:

If the Ohio legislature passes a bill to further restrict what Ohio voters previously passed, couldn't Ohio voters gather signatures and force it onto the ballot as a referendum as we did with Issue 2 in 2011 (blocking HB5)?

 

I mean, it sucks that it would have to come to that, but it would send the message to the legislature loud and clear: we passed this, stop messing with it.

The original Number 2 initiative (No. 1 was the Abortion access initiative) was very specific about terms and conditions, but the State legislature has the legal authority to amend the voter approved version, which is what the GOP driven Statehouse effort is trying to do right now. I think trying to submit a new voter initiative to restore and codify the original version would be harder because of what is already considered existing law in Ohio. A new initiative would have to seek amendments of the existing law with specific terms and conditions spelled out. Given the political climate locally and nationally, the political winds are too turbulent right now to bring a new voter initiative to the polls and confidently pass it.

What I'm suggesting is not exactly passing "a new voter initiative" about marijuana, it would be taking the new law that the legislature passes and forcing it onto the ballot as a referendum, which is something that the Ohio Constitution allows. The campaign would be to get voters to vote NO on this referendum, which would invalidate the law, meaning that the previous regulations would be in effect.

 

Again, I realize this is a ton of work, just calling it out as a possibility.