Adults in Ohio are allowed to legally possess and cultivate cannabis, but medical dispensaries can’t serve recreational customers
Adults in Ohio can now legally cultivate and possess cannabis after voters approved a legalization measure in November. The new law allows adults to grow up to six cannabis plants for personal use and possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis and/or 15 grams of cannabis extract.
Harvest of Ohio, a medical dispensary in Beavercreek, will be able to sell to adults once the revised bill is signed into law.
However, currently, only card-holding medical patients can purchase cannabis from state-licensed medical dispensaries. Legal sales are not expected to begin until summer or fall, unless lawmakers pass a bill revising Issue 2, the ballot initiative approved by 57% of voters on November 7.
Governor Mike DeWine told reporters that he did not support the legalization measure, but “we have an obligation to follow the will of the people, unless that’s changed at some point.”
Yet, DeWine also said lawmakers have “an obligation to make this work and to try to protect people who don’t want to be exposed to marijuana smoke, but also the people who are consuming marijuana to make sure that it is pure, that it is in fact it is safe.”
Ohio’s recent legalization of cannabis marks the first time the majority of U.S. residents live in states where marijuana is legal. Ohio is the 24th state to legalize adult-use cannabis.
“As a native Ohioan who has been directly impacted by marijuana criminalization and witnessed the unequal and unjust way it is enforced, I am overjoyed that responsible adult cannabis consumers in the Buckeye State will no longer face the lifelong collateral consequences of low-level arrests and convictions,” NORML political director Morgan Fox said in a press release. “I’m further pleased that our political opponents have, thus far, failed to undermine the spirit of this law — which was approved by 2.2 million voters.”
Fox is referring to Ohio Republicans immediately calling for legislative reforms. On December 4, three days before the home grow provision went into effect, Senate leaders introduced legislation to strip people of those rights. Although that bill ultimately did not pass, lawmakers are still debating restrictions on Issue 2, including prohibiting the gifting of marijuana, capping THC for concentrates at 70%, increasing retail sales tax on cannabis product from 10% to 15% and capping THC at 35% on flower.
“It is up to all Ohioans to ensure that lawmakers continue to defer to their constituents and allow the rest of this initiative to take effect as intended under the guidance of regulators, stakeholders and the citizens of Ohio,” Fox said.
However, not all proposed changes would be bad for consumers or the industry. Other proposals include automatic expungement for any cannabis conviction involving up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis (by submitting an application to the court), proceeds from recreational sales being used for legal expenses for those seeking expungement, eliminating the 15% tax on cultivators and allowing licensed medical dispensaries to begin selling cannabis to adult-use customers within 90 days.
“It is up to all Ohioans to ensure that lawmakers continue to defer to their constituents and allow the rest of this initiative to take effect as intended under the guidance of regulators, stakeholders, and the citizens of Ohio,” Fox said.