Ohio House Dems Fils First Act to Legalize Adult Cannabis

By Maureen Meehan

Two house officials from Ohio are submitting a bill that would legalize adult cannabis. This marks the first time a proposal allowing recreational cannabis trafficking has been tabled in Ohio law.

Co-sponsors of the bill, Representatives Terrence Upchurch and Casey Weinstein, began circulating the draft memo to her colleagues on Thursday for support before the bill is officially submitted.

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“Ohio can and should lead the way in paving the way for a successful recreational marijuana program,” Upchurch, who represents Northeast Ohio, including Cleveland, told Benzinga. “We really need to get the rollout right.”

Though full details have not yet been released, Upchurch said components of the bill would allow adult 21 to buy and own up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and grow up to 12 plants.

Ohioans with nonviolent cannabis-related filing crimes can have their files sealed and participate in the new legal industry.

“The number of people negatively affected by cannabis arrests in Ohio is astronomical. I’ve seen firsthand how cannabis beliefs have turned the lives of good people upside down for years, ”said Upchurch.

RELATED: Which State Will Legalize Marijuana First In 2020: Kentucky, Ohio, or Indiana?

Casey Weinstein, a U.S. Air Force veteran representing Ohio’s Dayton area, said the time has come for Ohio.

“We have simply achieved critical mass,” Weinstein told Benzinga. “Between Ohio’s successful medical marijuana program, other states moving forward, and broad, bipartisan support for the many benefits reform requires, it is time to legalize.”

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Many believe Republican Governor Mike DeWine will oppose the bill as well as GOP-dominated legislation, although both Upchurch and Weinstein say there are lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who support legalization.

Critical mass? It looks like this

First of all, the majority of Ohio voters have almost consistently supported reform through numerous local initiatives. Currently, nearly two dozen jurisdictions in Ohio have passed laws that dramatically reduce penalties for owning small amounts of weed, according to the Ohio Sensible Movement Coalition.

In Cincinnati, where cannabis was decriminalized in 2019, Mayor John Cranley tweeted Thursday afternoon, “It’s time we legalized marijuana in Ohio.”

If we legalize marijuana, we could put that tax revenue straight back into our communities. We could rebuild our roads and fund public education. We could expand health care for our communities.

It’s time we legalized marijuana in Ohio.

– John Cranley (@JohnCranley) July 15, 2021

Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, a Democrat running for governor of Ohio, reiterated that view in a statement Thursday.

“This is a sensible change that is both a major subject of criminal justice reform and a sensible way for Ohio to generate more revenue for basic services that communities across our state need.”

Medical cannabis patients are on the rise – cannabis companies are preparing for more

Ohio has nearly 100,000 medical marijuana patients, prompting the state to more than double the number of cannabis dispensaries for the coming year.

Among the cannabis companies now operating in Ohio are Jushi Holdings Inc (OTC: JUSHF), Ayr Wellness Inc. (OTC: AYRWF), Green Thumb Industries Inc. (OTC: GTBIF) and Body and Mind Inc. (OTC: BMMJ), among others. More are expected to find their way to Buckeye State.

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and was republished with permission.