Ohio is now the 24th state to legalize cannabis! Congratulations to the residents of the Buckeye State.
Issue 2 passed on November 7th, 2023. Seven years after the initial medical bill passed. All adults, over 21, can possess, purchase, and grow cannabis.
Timeline of Legalization
Possess and Consume
December 7th is the date to mark on your calendar. Anyone over 21 can possess up to 2.5 ounces of flower and 15 grams of extract.
However, there won’t be dispensaries right away, as the infrastructure and rules need set by the Division of Cannabis Control (read below). It is still illegal to transport cannabis across state lines, so getting cannabis legally will not be possible for some time. You won’t be punished for possession or consumption though.
Purchase from Dispensaries
There is no exact date when recreational dispensaries will open their doors. The Division of Cannabis Control needs to establish guidelines for a multitude of items, including packaging, security, testing, and more before licenses can be issued. Infrastructure will need to be put into place as well to handle the uptick in demand.
They only have nine months before they have to issue these licenses, so a good estimate would be late summer. We wouldn’t expect sales to happen too much sooner than that. Dispensaries will want to make sure everything is within guidelines and inventory is stocked.
After the initial round of licensing, it appears that there is a two-year gap before another round occurs.
Products to be sold
There will be a wide array of products available to consumers to enjoy. If there is a product or consumption method not yet available, a petition can be submitted to Cannabis Control to get it added. See the list of initial products below:
- Plant Material and Seed
- Live Plants and Clones
- Extracts
- Drops and Lozenges
- Oils
- Tinctures
- Edibles and Beverages
- Patches
- Smoking or Combustible Prdouct (Flower, etc)
- Salves, Lotions, or similar Cosmetic Products
- Pills and Capsules
- Suppositories
- Oral Pouches, Strips, and Sprays
- Inhalers
Home Grow
The same day you can possess and consume legally is the same day you can begin to grow…December 7th. Each adult (21 or older) may grow up to 6 plants. A household with multiple adults may grow up to 12 plants.
Plants must be in a secured closet, room, greenhouse, or other enclosed area in or on the grounds of the residence and can’t be visible by “normal unaided vision from a public space.” No one under 21 should be able to access the plants.
Lastly, if you don’t own your home, you aren’t guaranteed the right to grow. Your landlord has the right to ban you from growing on his/her property, as long as it is in the lease. Be respectful. If your landlord bans it, have a discussion on why. Try to find a middle ground.
Happy Growing! We recommend Ed Rosenthal’s Cannabis Growers Handbook. Great for beginners to commercial growers.
*We are not making any affiliate money from Ed Rosenthal as of now.
Taxes and Tax Funds
In addition to normal sales tax, there will be an additional 10% on adult-use cannabis. Four funds will receive this tax money in different splits. See the funds and splits below:
- Cannabis Social Equity and Jobs Fund – 36%
- Host Community Cannabis Fund – 36%
- Substance Abuse and Addiction Fund – 25%
- Division of Cannabis Control and Tax Commissioner Fund – 3%
Addiction Services
The Department of Mental Health will partner with Cannabis Control to establish a program for cannabis addiction. This will include education and treatment for those suffering. There will be a toll-free number available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Everything will be funded by the Substance Abuse and Addiction Fund.
Extra Info
Smoking in Public
This is a gray area. Sparking a joint up in front of a bunch of people at the park is illegal and frowned upon. Doing this would only end up as a misdemeanor. The law does say that property owners can decide if they want to allow marijuana use. Our suggestion is to do it in private or use another form of consumption while in public.
Smoking and Driving
Driving while intoxicated is illegal in all states. Cannabis included. This will never change. Please do not drive under the influence.
Smoking and Work
Similar to alcohol, it is not ok to be intoxicated at work. Aside from that, employers will still be able to set their own policies on drug testing. We do believe that many employers won’t require drug testing for cannabis in order to have a larger field of candidates to choose from. Make sure to check if your future employer drug tests.
What legalization means for neighboring states
There are five states that touch Ohio’s border, including PA, IN, WV, MI, and KY. Of these five states, only Michigan has legal cannabis. Pennsylvania and West Virginia have medical programs, and in Kentucky and Indiana, it is illegal. If you want to see an updated map on legalization, check out our Maps tab.
The five states listed above are now bordered by at least two legal states. Ohio’s legalization might pressure surrounding states to change their laws, whether that means medical or fully legal. Either way, we see the politicians having no choice but to do that to minimize trafficking over state lines. They will also begin to see the tax dollars that legalization can bring in.
To read more about Issue 2, click here.