COLUMBUS, Ohio (WKRC) – Issue 2, which will legalize recreational marijuana use, will go into effect with no changes, despite a last-ditch effort by the Ohio Senate.
Voters approved the measure with 57% of the vote, making Ohio the 24th state to legalize recreational marijuana and cannabis use.
Lawmakers from both the house and the senate said some changes are needed, but the two proposals differed wildly until Wednesday.
The House version introduced by State Rep. Jamie Callender (R-Concord) would keep most of Issue 2 intact, adding only a 10% excise tax on wholesalers while keeping the provisions allowing plants to be grown at home in place, as well as how much people can carry at one time.
“I want to thank all of you for all of the work you've done on this and all the work we're about to do on this and for respecting the will of the voters,” Callender told the House finance committee. “It's nice that we have one chamber that is the people's house."
The senate's original version made drastic changes, including banning growing pot plants at home.
But a new version was introduced late Wednesday, allowing home grow but limiting it to six plants per household, as well as allowing sales to start for recreational users in three months through medical dispensaries.
It also allows expungement of criminal records for those convicted of possession in the past, while lowering the allowed THC to nearly half what it is for medical marijuana and raising the sales tax to 15%.
That passed the full senate by a vote of 28-2 Wednesday night, with state Sen. Catherine Ingram (D-Cincinnati) as one of the 'no' votes.
Governor Mike DeWine pushed lawmakers to reach a deal by midnight so Ohioans wouldn't be confused by any future changes. He spoke late Wednesday about the new senate bill, saying he wants it into law as soon as possible to cut down a possible growing black market.
"We have to move. And there has to be a sense of urgency. I believe the senate is going to pass this and is going to pass this shortly. I would urge the house to pass this," DeWine said.
But the house went into recess until Thursday and is not voting on new bills until next week.
To make those changes take place immediately, it would take two-thirds of both chambers. Otherwise, any changes wouldn't happen for 90 days.
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