A push in the legalization of marijuana faces another hurdle after not submitting enough valid signatures to bring to the Ohio General Assembly
But the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol (CRMLA) says more signatures are coming soon.
“We know that it’s a priority of Democrats in Congress and a priority of the Biden Administration to deschedule marijuana,” Tom Haren, Spokesperson for CRMLA said.
“If that happens, that means that it’s descheduled under federal law and it’s automatically descheduled under Ohio law.”
If the federal government does deschedule marijuana, it would be available and can be sold by anyone. It would be untaxed and unregulated.
“That’s a really bad policy outcome,” Haren said.
“It’s very important for the Ohio General Assembly to be proactive on this issue so that when the federal government ultimately deschedules marijuana, we have a framework in place.”
The Coalition’s proposal would have a 10% cannabis tax on top of state and local sales tax. Plus, similar measures were taken from Ohio’s current Medical Marijuana program founded by Senator Steve Huffman in 2016.
Huffman currently sponsors SB 261, which would expand medical use as your physician sees fit and establish a Department of Marijuana Control. Currently, the Ohio Department of Commerce regulates cultivators, and the Ohio Board of Pharmacy regulates dispensaries.
However, Senator Huffman says he opposes full legalization.
“I would just have to look at the bill and what it does,” Senator Huffman, who represents Ohio’s 5th District, said.
“I just don’t think Ohioans are ready for recreational marijuana. I believe it’s going to happen in Ohio in 5-8 years. But I think there’s going to be a transition period for Ohioans to be able to accept it.”
Huffman’s medical marijuana bill passed through the Senate and is being introduced in the House.
If CRMLA obtains enough valid signatures, lawmakers would have four months to act. If none is taken, the group can also gather an additional 133,877 signatures to go on the statewide ballot in the November elections.
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