COLUMBUS, OH (WLIO) - Ohio lawmakers are trying to get changes made to the marijuana legalization law, the same week that is set to take effect.
A bill introduced in the Ohio Senate would change things in State Issue 2 that voters passed 57% to 43% in November. The proposed changes include prohibiting any home growing of marijuana, the ballot initiative allowed for six plants for an individual, and 12 for a household. The bill will limit smoking marijuana and consuming edibles only in private residences. The bill would also increase the sales tax for marijuana from 10% to 15%, and tax money would go to the state of Ohio and to train law enforcement instead of social programs. State Representative Susan Manchester says the state needs to regulate marijuana like other products.
“It is a highly addictive drug. One that is known to have some negative consequences,” says State rep. Manchester, (R) 78th Ohio House District. “I think we have a history of regulating substances, such as alcohol and nicotine and I think marijuana should be no exception to that. The legislature needs to be serious about how we are going to treat this drug and how we are going to consider what the voters voted for, but also do what is best for the State of Ohio.”
According to the ballot language, the legalization of marijuana for adult use was to go into effect on Thursday and a vote in the Ohio Senate on the proposed bill is expected to take place on Wednesday.
