During the Senate General Government Committee meeting on Wednesday, several important points were agreed upon:
-Homegrown marijuana will be allowed at six plants per household, down from Issue 2 levels of 12 per household.
-Possession limits that were originally spelled out in Issue 2 will not be changed: 2.5 ounces for plants and 15 grams extracts.
-THC content limit for plant material will return to Issue 2 level of 35%.
-Anyone 21 years of age or older can purchase at current marijuana dispensaries once bill takes effect. Issue 2 did not allow existing dispensaries to start selling until nine months after the law takes effect.
-Automatic expungements for any conviction involving 2.5 ounces and below upon application to court.
-Proceeds from recreational pot sales will be used for legal representation for those people seeking expungements.
-Increase the approved tax on sale of marijuana products from 10% to 15%, but remove the proposed 15% extra tax on cultivators.
The changes were unanimously passed by the committee, then cleared the full Senate by a 28-2 vote.
Despite the bill clearing the Senate floor, the Republican-majority House — which leans more in favor of overall recreational marijuana legalization than the Senate — still has to agree to the many changes. GOP Gov. Mike DeWine, who has supported going along with at least the basics approved by voters, also must sign off on them.
As the bill headed to the Senate floor on Wednesday evening, DeWine held a press conference at the Ohio Statehouse and appeared to endorse the proposed changes.
“The bill, while respecting the will of the voters, deals with the practical challenges of implementing its program and protects — as best we can — our children, our families, and those who don’t want to be exposed to marijuana at all,” DeWine stated.
Lynna Lai reports: https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/ohio/ohio-senate-revised-marijuana-bill/95-c6803608-cfc5-4270-80ce-5c1396d98839