Ohio: cannabis legalization proposed for November vote

A proposal to legalize cannabis was submitted to Ohio lawmakers on Monday. A proposed petition was presented to the Ohio Attorney General, who has 10 days to approve the project.

The «Regulate Cannabis Like Alcohol» project would allow adults aged 21 and over to buy, possess and grow cannabis for personal use. Possession would be limited to 28 grams (1 ounce), and individuals would be able to grow up to six plants, including three in flower.

The State Department of Commerce would be responsible for regulating the cannabis and license companies.

Cannabis sales will be subject to a special excise tax, of which at least 25% will go to a commission charged with ensuring social equity in the industry. Half of the revenues would be allocated to State Local Government Fund and at least 10% would go to local jurisdictions accepting cannabis stores.

Each municipality would be able to prohibit cannabis businesses «by enactment of an ordinance or initiated or referred measure», although the question would have to be put to the voters.

The proposed constitutional amendment also includes provisions to strengthen social equity. For example, the Commerce Department would be tasked with conducting a study «to determine whether there has been prior discrimination in the issuance of marijuana-related licenses in Ohio, including whether the effects of marijuana prohibition have contributed to a lack of participation by people of minority races in Ohio's medical marijuana industry.»

«Adults should be able to use cannabis responsibly,» said Tom Haren, general counsel and campaign spokesman, in a press release.

To be put to the vote in November, the petition must collect around 443,000 valid signatures by July 1.

While Ohio voters did not vote to legalize cannabis in 2015, Public opinion has since changed. Moreover, some pro-reform protagonists had opposed the previous proposal for fear that it would give control of the industry to an unrepresentative minority.

«Cannabis prohibition has been used for many years to target communities of color in Ohio,» said Anthony Riley, a member of the support committee. «In addition to targeted communities of color, other sick, disabled and poor Ohioans have been treated unfairly for trying medical cannabis as an alternative to opioids.»

«This amendment will help put an end to many biased policies by ending cannabis prohibition, returning tax revenue to the Local Government Fund, and guaranteeing poor communities and minorities a fair chance to participate in Ohio's new adult-use marijuana program,» he said.

L’Ohio legalized medical cannabis in 2016. Legal sales began in early 2019.