Ohio’s Marijuana Reform Bill Faces Delays and Disagreements
Since Ohio voters approved Issue 2 on Election Day, legislators have been scrambling to come up with their own proposals to override the statute. However, the urgency is not shared by all members of the House.
Representative Stephens expressed that the House needs to be deliberative and respectful about such a big change in Ohio’s law and culture. He emphasized the need to not let the urgent get in the way of the important.
The Senate, in collaboration with Governor Mike DeWine, has finalized its recreational marijuana proposal which includes reducing home grow limits, raising the cannabis tax rate, and making changes to the maximum THC content in cannabis extract products.
Both the Senate and DeWine are urging the House to act quickly, as there is concern that the delay between the legalization of marijuana possession and the first state-sanctioned sale could lead to an increase in black market activity or draw Ohioans to neighboring states, such as Michigan.
Stephens noted that the House’s proceedings need to take into account the concerns raised by the Governor and the Senate, while also respecting the will of the voters as much as possible.
However, disagreements between the House and the Senate remain. One key point of contention is the tax revenue from recreational marijuana sales, with the Senate keeping more control at the state level while Issue 2 generally gives more power to local governments.
The House has remained quiet about its points of disagreement with the Senate’s proposal, but both Republican and Democratic leadership have suggested differences in opinion regarding tax rates and local government control over revenue.
Minority Leader Allison Russo expressed concerns about the overall tax rate, hoping to find a “sweet spot” that would not drive people to the black market or neighboring states.
Meanwhile, the House is continuing its deliberations on its own Issue 2 reform. Lawmakers are hearing public testimony and there is opposition to both the Senate’s bill and the provisions being considered by the House.
With no House vote set for the current session, there is uncertainty about when the legislature will reach an agreement on Issue 2 reform, as lawmakers may not return until mid-to-late January. Overall, the road to recreational marijuana legalization in Ohio remains bumpy, with disagreements between the House and Senate and uncertainty about the timeline for reform.