We are going to pause. The summer will be spent on the project and we may return to this later.
By Megan Henry, Ohio Capital Journal
Ohio’s lawmakers are likely to go into summer recess without amending the marijuana laws of their state, said a Republican representative on Tuesday.
For the second week in a row, Ohio Senate Bill 56 was up for a possible vote out of the Ohio House Judiciary Committee, but both times the vote did not take place.
After the bill has passed out of the committee, the House can vote on it. The Senate passed the bill in February.
Last week, the bill was removed from the committee agenda and this week the committee meeting—which only had S.B. 56 on the agenda—was canceled.
“We are going to push pause,” state Rep. Brian Stewart, R-Ashville, said when asked about the marijuana bill. We’ll take a break over the summer, and then possibly revisit it.
Ohio House speaker Matt Huffman said, R-Lima. The Senate has raised over 12 issues in relation to S.B. Last week, S.B. 56 was introduced.
“I just told my caucus, ‘We’re not going to just say, OK, because we’re so anxious to pass the marijuana bill, which I’d like to get it done, but we’re not going to give up House priorities to do that,'” he said last week.
Ohio’s Governor, Mike DeWine (R), must sign the budget before July 1. Mike DeWine, (R), must sign the budget before July 1. After the budget has been approved, lawmakers will be on vacation until August.
S.B. S.B.
Ohio would continue to grow home plants at the current limit of 6 plants per individual and 12 per house. Steve Huffman (R-Tipp city) introduced the bill to the state legislature in January. The bill would originally have reduced Ohio’s limit for home-grown plants from 12 down to 6.
Ohioans passed a citizen-initiated law to legalize recreational marijuana in 2023 with 57 percent of the vote, and sales started in August 2024. Ohio lawmakers have the power to change this law, since it is a citizen’s initiative rather than a constitutional amendment.
Dani Isaacsohn of the Ohio House Minority, a D-Cincinnati member said that “the people of Ohio have spoken very clearly about this issue.” They knew exactly what they were voting for, and voted in favor of adult use cannabis here in Ohio.
Hemp products that are intoxicating
S.B. The most notable addition to 56 is the regulation of intoxicating products made from hemp.
According to the current bill, only licensed marijuana dispensaries would be allowed to sell hemp intoxicants that had been thoroughly tested, and met all packaging, labeling, and advertising standards.
Ohio Department of Commerce regulates intoxicating products made from hemp and products containing cannabinoids. Drinkable cannabinoid product sales would be allowed to continue in grocery stores, carryout shops, bars and restaurants.
Isaacsohn says that he agrees with the need for regulations on intoxicating products made from hemp, but prefers to see it done through a ‘clean bill.
It is tied to trying to change the vote of the people,” said he. “If we had a clean bill to fairly regulate intoxicating hemp, we could have voted on it months ago, years ago… There are so many common sense things that we agree on, and when the majority brings forward a clean bill, we would be happy to vote for it.”
In the 2018 Farm Bill hemp that contains less than 0.3 % THC can be legally grown.
State Rep. D.J. Swearingen (R-Huron) was going to introduce amendments during the Tuesday committee meeting. However, the meeting has been cancelled.
The American Republic Policy worked with Swearingen on the amendments which would have allowed licensed hemp companies in Ohio to continue to operate their retail stores and create a unified regulatory framework for hemp and marijuana products, said Dakota Sawyer of American Republic Policy.
The same laws that apply to marijuana in Ohio would also apply to hemp, he explained. We are making sure that hemp products that meet federal legality can be purchased by independent businesses and not forced into dispensaries.
Sawyer claimed that limiting hemp-based products to dispensaries will eliminate competition on the market.
“We want to ensure that there are options out for people, to ensure that they are able to purchase what they love, what they would want…and to ensure that we do not have state-sanctioned monopolies,” he said.
Jennifer Gross (R-West Chester) said that S.B. 56 passes as it currently stands—with hemp products only being sold in dispensaries.
“We need to reward the good actors,” she said. We need to check the ID of our hemp products before they are consumed. “We also need to let these businesses stay open.”
Wesley Bryant, company owner of 420 Craft Beverages in Cleveland, said he already does many of the things that are outlined in the proposed amendment.
“I have cameras on every square inch of the facility,” said he. We can track everything that enters my facility. So far, we have even double checked IDs. I keep my door locked at all times. “You must be buzzed to enter the facility.”
Sawyer stated that most Ohio hemp customers are 40 years of age. DeWine, as well other legislators have raised safety concerns regarding children and hemp products.
Sawyer explained that “it’s not designed for children.” What some lawmakers have done is create this mythical boogeyman, which says all hemp-people are doing these crazy things to attract minors. “Let’s punish bad actors who do that but don’t punish good guys.”
But Adrienne Robbin, deputy executive director of Ohio Cannabis Coalition (OHCANN), said Ohio children are being put at risk by intoxicating hemp products.
It’s sad for Ohioans, she added. “These illicit products are going to be available in Ohio over the course of summer.” The products being sold are marketed towards [children] She said, “specifically.” I think that the hemp industry does a great job of highlighting the good guys, but in reality, most of the products they sell are illegal.
Sawyer said he would prefer to see the legislation as two separate bills—one with marijuana regulations and a separate one with hemp regulations.
He said that marijuana and hemp were two completely different products and industries.
The original publication of this story is Ohio Capital Journal.
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Side Pocket Images. Photo by Chris Wallis.