Ohio's marijuana laws are changing rapidly, with new legislation, initiatives, and reforms emerging. As Ohio has 130 licensed medical cannabis dispensaries and the Ohio Board of Pharmacy is in charge of marijuana regulations, cities and townships are able to pass laws that restrict or permit marijuana dispensaries or grow operations. In 2023, the Ohio medical marijuana market is set to more than double, and efforts continue to legalize recreational cannabis.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Ohio's medical marijuana industry has too much pot and not enough patients to consume it. To address the issue, lawmakers are considering Senate Bill 9, which would update the state's six-year-old law and allow for more marijuana cultivation and dispensaries. Under the new bill, a new state agency, the Division of Marijuana Control, would be created as part of the Ohio Department of Commerce to regulate medical marijuana. The agency would issue licenses to cultivators, processors, and dispensaries, as well as set rules for testing, packaging, and labeling.
Voters in Ohio could decide on an initiative to legalize marijuana in November 2023. Oklahomans for Sensible Marijuana laws, an organization that advocates for the legalization of marijuana, is pushing for the initiative. Under the initiative, cannabis would be legalize for those 21 and older, and the state would set up a system of taxation and regulation similar to alcohol.
Opponents of the initiative argue that the state is not ready for marijuana legalization. "There is no medical marijuana card, there is no process to obtain it because we again do not have any medical cannabis that's legal," said Ohio Rep. Bill Seitz (R).
Senate Bill 9 is similar to Senate Bill 261 from last legislative session in that they both are trying to update the state's six-year-old law and allow for more marijuana cultivation and dispensaries. The bill allows for up to 10 new cultivators to be added, while also allowing existing cultivators to increase their growing capacity. It would also allow up to 40 new dispensaries, as well as allow existing dispensaries to open up more locations.
Meanwhile, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) signed a major criminal justice reform bill last month that removes marijuana paraphernalia convictions from the state’s criminal records. The bill also allows for those with existing marijuana convictions to have them expunged.
In addition, the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy is taking steps to make it easier for doctors to recommend medical marijuana. The board has proposed a new rule that would allow doctors to make medical marijuana recommendations without having to take a certification course.
Ohio's medical marijuana market is set to more than double in 2023 and efforts continue to legalize recreational cannabis. As the state's marijuana laws continue to evolve, it is important to stay up to date on the latest developments.
