COLOMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Senate Republicans voted to change the recreational marijuana policy set by voters in 2023. Amid protests from cannabis lovers, GOP leaders continue to argue that they didn’t actually know that voters were voting during the election.
From discovering medicinal cannabis while dealing with polycystic ovarian syndrome to helping to collect signatures to legalize recreational marijuana, Tasha Rountree is fighting at the forefront of its products.
“Just have something to get me up and move me,” Lone Tree said.
This is why she is so disappointed with her state legislators. Since Ohio voted overwhelmingly in 2023 to allow adult cannabis, legislators have been trying to change the law.
“We feel like we’re lying, the bamboo is inflated and permeating into the community,” she said.
Senate Republicans have now passed Senate Bill 56. This reduces the THC content permitted in the product, limiting the home growing from 12 plants to 6 plants. The votes were along the party line, with all nine Democrats voting.
The psychoactive cannabinoid THC concludes with 100 milligrams per package. It also primarily reduces tolerable THC levels in adult extracts up to 90% to 70%.
For more information about the bill, click to read this article by News 5 Media Partner, The Ohio Capital Journal.
State Sen. Christina Rougner (R-Hudson) believes these changes are common sense for public safety.
“We want to make sure it’s done responsibly, respectfully and protecting the kids in Ohio,” she said.
Lawmakers pointed out that the bill has a series of advertising restrictions to prevent young people from being targeted.
Product packaging cannot contain cartoons or characters that appeal to children. Advertisers are not permitted to advertise within 500 feet of various locations, such as schools, churches, and public libraries. They are not allowed to claim that marijuana has a “positive health or therapeutic effect.”
It also cracks even more when smoking in public.
“I don’t think we want our kids to be exposed to these types of materials and chemicals,” added Rougner. “It’s not just healthy.”
It is easy to say where you can smoke under current law: private property that allows it.
As I have reported previously, the law is relatively unknown, according to legal experts and politicians. Part of the Smoking Prohibition Act says the law is prohibited from public indoor spaces. However, there are a few exceptions. Some outdoor patios and individual rooms in nursing homes and hotels and motels that specify “smoking” rooms.
This seemed to address a very niche aspect of the private residence ban. This means that if the residence is a childcare home or the lease agreement states that no one can smoke, the user can get a misdemeanor.
The bill changes tax systems. Instead of sending marginalized communities to a social equity fund that helps them obtain pharmacy licenses, the funds will be retained until they decide where to go, according to an analysis by the Legislative Services Commission.
Rountree feels that the black community deserves to be involved in the industry as it shows that extensive data and research are disproportionately affected by marijuana-related laws.
“We don’t have a growing site, we don’t have processing. We don’t have a pharmacy now, and now we don’t even have the opportunity,” she said. “So what are we doing for?
For some reason, it appears that the Social Equity and Jobs program has already been removed from the state website, despite SB 56 not being enabled.
The Department of Development website page details what the program does and was previously found here. It is no longer available as of Wednesday evening. I contacted the department. But it was after the end of business so I’m waiting for a response.
The bill also caps the number of clinics in the state to 350. Rountree feared this would eliminate competition, but Roegner opposed.
“I don’t think this will hold back the industry,” she said. “So this is certainly a booming industry.
What marijuana supporters liked was a clause that seemed to make marijuana more expensive.
However, tax policy is currently under discussion in the state’s operating budget.
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Voters’ will
Bill sponsor Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City) said voters knew they wanted legal weeds, but they didn’t know everything they were voting for.
“I don’t know why people voted for the initiative. It could have been a growth in homes, a rise in public smoking, a pharmacy. It could have been anything,” Huffman said. “We never know.”
I wondered why this rhetoric continues.
“Voters (you and the other lawmakers said) knew they were choosing marijuana, but they didn’t know exactly what they were voting for. Why do you think about that?” asked Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon).
“Well, I’m not saying they didn’t know what they were voting for,” he said. “I think the comment (it) of today was made is that there may be another reason why everyone is going to get to ‘yes’. Like other big laws, it is huge and deals with a variety of changes. ”
He said they should have known the risks of lawmakers being involved as voters chose to vote on it as a law launched in place of constitutional amendments.
In the context there are two main ways that citizens can get something in a statewide vote. The laws and constitutional amendments have begun. The recreational marijuana proposal is an inaugurated law, which means it will enter the Ohio State Revised Code. A law that has been launched, or law, has a voting process that is easier than constitutional reform. The laws that have been launched can be easily changed, but cannot be amended.
When pressed further by another reporter, McCoury was irritated and replied that there were “various reasons” for people to vote for the bill.
“Do you think the changes he proposed are against the will of the voters?” asked Rountree.
“Absolutely, absolutely,” she replied. “I can say I’m smart enough to become you, but am I not smart enough to know that I voted? I’m incompetent or not.”
The bill will be sent home for review.
Speaker Huffman, who said he wanted to significantly change the state’s marijuana laws in December, seemed to have had a change in his heart in January. He backtracked at least some of his proposed restrictions after meeting with state legislator marijuana enthusiasts.
State Assemblyman Jamie Calendar (R-Concord), who blocked dramatic changes from passing Huffman’s final general meeting, said he would meet with speakers to help him teach him about drugs and current policies.
He has helped many other Republicans deal with the legalization of cannabis, Calendar said.
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