Ohio Senate may make first move on package of marijuana modifications

Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said Tuesday the chamber is on board with Gov. Mike DeWine’s pitch to modify the recreational marijuana initiated statute quickly, prior to the first provisions taking effect Dec. 7.

Senators are planning to put forward a package of policy changes, Huffman said, although he didn’t give details on the exact proposals or a timeline for it—just that it would be on one quicker than standard legislation. Few scheduled committee and full sessions remain before the effective date.

“As this ramps up, it would be better for people going forward to know what the law is than people begin spending money or taking actions and then the law changes six months from now,” Huffman said Tuesday.

Ohio voters passed Issue 2 by a 14-point margin last Tuesday. It legalizes and sets regulation guidelines for Ohioans to grow, cultivate, sell, buy, and consume marijuana if they are 21 or older.

Altering the tax rates and revenue distribution for the eventual recreational marijuana program, as well as regulating public use of products, are potential changes to the language voters ratified that Huffman flagged.

“Obviously people have a lot of suggestions when there's a new channel of money,” he said.