CBD Oil has become a trending topic as of late and it seems that every day there is a new development in its legality. Enter November 7th, a day we will all remember as Ohio voters have officially legalized recreational cannabis via Issue 2. This important ballot initiative, passed earlier this month, marks a fundamental shift in cannabis legislation in the state of Ohio.
This particular vote to legalize cannabis comes on the heels of several other important reforms. Notably, in 2016, Ohio lawmakers took the crucial step to legalize medical marijuana. Additionally, about 38 Ohio cities have already decriminalized the possession of up to 7 ounces of cannabis. However, it’s important to remember that as intuitive as all of this seems, just a few years ago, in 2015, a separate legalization initiative was met with defeat. So, it’s no small feat to see how far we’ve come.
So what are the next steps? How will legalization in Ohio play out? Well for starters, the law “become effective” 30 days after passage. However, it’s imperative to note that the ballot measure does not specify when adult-use sales will begin. Another key provision of Issue 2 is that it allows adults 21 or older to possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis and 15 grams of cannabis concentrate. That seems like a rather forgiving rule, especially given the fact that individuals can also grow up to six plants at home, with a maximum of twelve plants per household.
And just like that, the state will have a new Division of Cannabis Control within the Ohio Department of Commerce to oversee the nascent ‘green’ industry. As it stands, the state will license 40 new cultivators and 50 new retailers with the flexibility to issue more licenses two years after they approve this first batch. Additionally, the ballot measure stipulates that the state will issue new licenses “with a preference to applications who are participants under the cannabis social equity and jobs program,” although the exact number is up for debate.
So what’s the deal with local towns and counties? While they can ban new stores, it’s also good to know that they cannot stop existing medical dispensaries from selling to adult-use customers. You can even breathe a sigh of relief as towns and counties cannot impose local taxes on cannabis. Now that’s generosity for you.
But wait- there’s even more to learn. Ohio will place a 10% excise tax on cannabis sales along with the state’s 5.75% sales tax, and any local taxes up to 2.25%. All that revenue towards a marijuana social equity and jobs fund- who knew cannabis could be so charitable? But, what about the expungement process? Well, it’s a bit vague at the moment, as the measure does not include specific language around automatic expungement, but does require some cannabis tax revenue to fund reform efforts including expungement.
All in all, legalization in Ohio has the potential to change the cannabis game both in the US and globally, and with its newfound leniency and reward system towards cannabis users and businesses, it sure does look like a hopeful beginning for all parties involved.