Senate Republicans in Ohio claim that voters weren’t properly informed of what they were voting for when they approved the state’s recreational cannabis legalization ballot measure in 2023 and have passed a bill to restrict the measure. According to the Ohio GOP, voters across the state weren’t aware of what they were approving when they voted to legalize cannabis.
Despite protests from marijuana enthusiasts, Republican leaders in Ohio have voted to amend the state’s recreational cannabis policy and make it more restrictive. Ohio was the 24th state to legalize adult-use cannabis in the U.S. when Ohio voters went against their GOP leaders like Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, who chose not to pass the proposed law, and voted in favor of allowing cannabis use for eligible adults.
Ohio GOP leaders, as well as manufacturing and business organizations, claimed that legalizing the controversial drug for adult use would harm traffic and workplace safety. They have spent the past two years trying to reverse the measure and have now settled on passing a measure to lower allowable THC levels and limit the number of plants eligible adults are allowed to grow at home from 12 to 6.
Under the recently passed measure, cannabis products sold in Ohio should have no more than 100 milligrams of THC per package. Furthermore, THC levels in recreational extracts were lowered from 90% to 70%. The result is that while Ohioans still have access to recreational cannabis, the products they can use will be less potent than they are accustomed to.
State Senator Kristina Roegner says the changes to Ohio’s recreational cannabis policy are common sense measures designed to boost public safety. In addition to ensuring cannabis is used ‘responsibly and respectfully,’ Senator Roegner adds that the bill also includes various marketing restrictions to protect youth and children from cannabis advertising.
These marketing provisions ban cannabis companies from designing their product packaging with characters or cartoons that are likely to attract children. The measure prohibits cannabis operators from advertising their products within 50 feet of places such as public libraries, churches, and schools. Furthermore, Roegner notes that they cannot claim that their products have any positive therapeutic or health effects in their marketing.
The measure also places more restrictions on public consumption to prevent children and youth from being exposed to cannabis, the Ohio Senator adds. It would also amend Ohio’s cannabis tax structure by enabling lawmakers to hold cannabis tax funds until they determine how to spend the money rather than sending the funds to a social equity fund designed to help members of marginalized communities acquire dispensary licenses.
Marijuana companies across the country, including Cresco Labs Inc. (CSE: CL) (OTCQX: CRLBF), will be disappointed that a section of the lawmakers in Ohio is actively thwarting the wishes of voters strongly expressed during the elections.
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