Curious to learn more about the Ohio marijuana legalization status? You’ve come to the right place!
Ohio’s marijuana legalization status has been shifting over the years. And now that the state is just on the cusp of legalization with a new initiative, we’re eager to deliver information about what’s happening here.
Whether you’re a cannabis consumer in Ohio or planning to open a cannabis business, this article is for you! Keep reading to learn more about the Ohio marijuana legalization status.
Ohio Legalization 2022
Could Ohio legalization happen in 2022? This is definitely a possibility.
The Ohio Marijuana Legalization Initiative might be on the Ohio ballot. If it is, it will be as an indirect initiated state statute. This is expected to occur on November 8, 2022.
Through this initiative, state law would be put in place to legalize recreational marijuana cultivation, processing, purchases, sales, possession, and home grows for those 21 years of age and older. Adult cannabis consumers in this state would be allowed to have up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis and as much as 15 grams of cannabis concentrates. Furthermore, adults would be permitted to cultivate up to six marijuana plants at their residents or as many as 12 plants per household.
Also important to consider is that this initiative would enact a 10% cannabis tax rate on recreational sales. It would also dedicate some of the revenue to fund “a cannabis social equity and jobs program” that would “provide financial assistance and license application support to individuals most directly and adversely impacted by the enforcement of marijuana-related laws.”
This initiative would also offer funding for a community cannabis fund, along with the substance abuse and addiction fund and Division of Cannabis Control, which will be created by the initiative and given the responsibility of overseeing the cannabis industry’s operations in Ohio.
2022 Ohio Ballot Information
The 2022 Ohio ballot summarizes the initiative with the following statement:
“The Act would enact Chapter 3780 (‘Chapter’) of the Ohio Revised Code regarding adult-use cannabis control to authorize and regulate the cultivation, processing, sale, purchase, possession, home grow, and use of adult-use cannabis by adults at least twenty-one years of age (‘adult-use consumers’). Adult-use cannabis, cannabis, and marijuana are all defined under the Act to mean marihuana as defined in section 3719.01 of the Ohio Revised Code.”
One argument for this shift in legislation comes from Tom Haren, a spokesperson for the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol.
“We are proposing to regulate marijuana for adult use, just like we do for alcohol,” Haren explained. “Our proposal fixes a broken system while ensuring local control, keeping marijuana out of the hands of children, and benefiting everyone.”
CTRMLA Ohio
Control Marijuana Like Alcohol Ohio (CTRMLA Ohio) is an organization in support of the Ohio Marijuana Legalization Initiative. It focuses on changing marijuana laws to regulate it like alcohol, as the name suggests.
This would mean ensuring marijuana stays out of the hands of children while generating hundreds of millions in new revenue for Ohio, all while creating jobs. It would add to the state’s economic successes and generate tax revenue, which is highly needed, especially with the economic decline resulting from the pandemic.
Ohio Adult Use Act
Under the Ohio Adult Use Act, Ohioan adults will be permitted to purchase and use marijuana recreationally in a way that’s comparable to alcohol. The state would permit personal cultivation of cannabis, and it would allow existing licensed medical marijuana cultivators to expand their operations to include adult-use marijuana cultivation.
This act aims to control and regulate adult-use cannabis in the state. It would enact Chapter 3780 of the Ohio Revised Code, which handles adult-use cannabis control.
Closing on Ohio Marijuana Legalization Status
To summarize, the Ohio Marijuana Legalization Initiative would permit adults 21 years of age and older to cultivate, possess, process, purchase, and sell marijuana. It would also create a social equity and jobs program to help those most impacted by marijuana-related laws, as well as a community cannabis fund.
The initiative would generate tax revenue that would be put towards various funds, including the Division of Cannabis Control. It would also allow cultivators who are licensed for medical marijuana to expand their operations to include adult-use marijuana.
CTRMLA Ohio is an organization in support of the initiative, as it aims to regulate marijuana for adult use similarly to alcohol. The Ohio Adult Use Act would permit adults 21 years of age and older to purchase and use marijuana recreationally. It would also create a social equity and jobs program to help those most impacted by marijuana-related laws, as well as a community cannabis fund.
We’re eager to see how the Ohio marijuana legalization status changes in 2022. Our belief is that we’ll see tremendous progress in this state, and as this happens, we’ll see an impressive legal cannabis marketplace begin to take shape.
Looking to expand and properly structure your Ohio cannabis business? Northstar is ready to help!
Contact us now to speak with one of our experts and learn how we’ll scale your operation and profits with tracking and data insights.
