(C) Ohio Capital Journal
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Ohio legal weed launch a rare example of true representation being carried out in state government • Ohio Capital Journal [1]

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Date: 2024-05-16

In a rare example of Ohio government functioning representatively, legal adult-use marijuana is coming soon to store shelves, and reasonable bipartisanship has prevailed over the machinations of gerrymandered extremists.

This past November, 57% of Ohio voters approved a new law for adult-use marijuana in the Buckeye State for those 21 and over.

Even though marijuana is legal now, Ohio law has no system set up yet for people to legally buy it. That will soon change, with the news this week that the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR) has approved regulations from the Division of Cannabis Control (DCC), which means that medical dispensaries could start applying for a recreational license in the next few weeks.

Sales could begin as soon as mid-June, according to policymakers, the Division of Cannabis Control, and dispensary owners.

While gerrymandered extremists in the Ohio Senate passed a law to overhaul the voters’ wishes, it was mightily resisted by a bipartisan coalition in the Ohio House spearheaded by Republican state Rep. Jamie Callender, also the chair of JCARR.

Callender fought against changes that senators wanted to make, such as cutting down on home grow, limiting THC content, all but banning THC vapes, and reshuffling revenue from community, addiction, and business support toward law enforcement and the building of more jails.

In essence, the Ohio Senate Republican gerrymandered supermajority wanted to flout the voters’ will and take control over the new marijuana legalization for their own purposes instead of honoring the law that voters passed.

Callender and a bipartisan coalition in the Ohio House said, “No.”

For that, they can not be too much applauded.

The DCC has to file the rule in final form with JCARR, the Legislative Service Commission, and the Secretary of State’s office by May 22.

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