Republican legislator tries Reduce the amount of marijuana cultivated at home, lower THC levels in recreational marijuana, augment tax and redirect revenues from it.
Ohio Sen. Steve Huffman, R-tipp City, recently introduced Senate Bill 56 which would introduce several changes in state marijuana regulations.
“This act concerns government performance, consumer and children’s safety and maintaining access to adult marijuana approved by voters,” said Huffman in his sponsors’ testimony last week.
Voters from Ohioans adopted an act initiated by a citizen to legalize marijuana recreational in 2023, and sales began in August 2024. Because it was transferred as a citizens’ initiative, legislators from OHIO have the opportunity to change the law.
The total sales of recreational marijuana amounted to USD 292 874 669 as at January 25, in accordance with Trade Department Ohio Division of Cannabis Control.
The Act would reduce THC levels in adult marijuana extracts from a maximum of 90% to a maximum of 70% and combine state marijuana programs as part of the state of marijuana.
“The consolidation of both programs under the division will allow consistent requirements for testing, packaging, labeling and advertising, especially those related to the protection of children,” said Huffman in his testimony. “It also provides improved license standards and general compliance procedures, limiting bureaucracy, bureaucracy and government waste.”
On the house side, the law currently allows the cultivation of 12 marijuana plants in one place of residence, but the bill would reduce it by half. Huffman said that people who grow marijuana at home can provide an illegal market.
“People voted for the development of the house,” said Huffman. “I think this is an example that we try to move him to a slightly more reasonable one.”
SB 56 would require transport of marijuana to the car trunk while traveling and specifies that marijuana is allowed only in a private residence.
“Ohio has long established open alcohol regulations in motor vehicles; Common sense requires a similar principle of access to adults and access to marijuana in motor vehicles, “said Steve Barnett, the prosecutor of Carroll and the current officer of the Ohio lawyer association.
The bill would also augment the tax on adult marijuana from 10% to 15%, restricted the number of vigorous pharmacies in 350 and will amount to all tax revenues from adults to the state general fund. Currently 128 Marijuana clinics in Ohio According to Friday, according to the Ohio trade department.
. Current tax revenues is divided in many ways – 36% into the cannabis and work fund, 36% on the cannabis fund, 25% on the abuse and addiction fund and 3% to divide the cannabis and tax control fund.
Ohio senators tried to pass a similar bill during the previous general assembly, but died in the chamber.
“So we basically tell voters … fuck you,” said Senator Bill Demora, D-Cumbus. “You don’t know what you are talking about. You gave it to the overwhelming majority of the state, but we know better. “
Huffman replied, saying that he believes that his account will fix “some social needs”.
“I don’t want to sit in the match with the ball, and the guy next to my nine-year-old child burns marijuana,” he said. “I think it’s bad. Voters voted for it. … I wouldn’t say we are looking at everything. We try to improve it. “
Currently, there is nothing related to expungment in the account, so Demora asked about the possibility of increasing the bill, and Huffman sounded on this possibility.
“Thanks to this committee process, we will certainly be open to all kinds of corrections to do something in this line,” said Huffman.
Despite the governor of Ohio Mike Dewine, legislators to regulate or prohibit THC Delta-8 products, Hemp is not included in the invoice. In the last general meeting there was an account that would ban the sale of intoxicating cannabis, but the bill never overtook the committee.
However, Huffman suggested that a separate hemp account will be introduced soon.
“I think they are both very complex problems,” he said.
Herring reporter Megan Henry on BlueSky.
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