The Columbus Dispatch

Recreational marijuana sales kick off in Ohio

By Haley BeMiller, Columbus Dispatch,

6 days ago

It's official: You can buy recreational marijuana in Ohio.

Thousands of people visited dispensaries across the state yesterday for the first day of sales. The launch came nine months after Ohioans voted to pass Issue 2, which legalized marijuana for adults 21 and older.

Ninety-eight medical dispensaries got dual-use certificates of operation to begin selling recreational if they chose (and many did). The Division of Cannabis Control is expected to issue the remaining licenses this week. But the rollout of Ohio's marijuana law is far from over:

Right now, dispensaries can only sell products allowed under the medical marijuana program. That means no pre-rolls or extracts with more than 70% THC. Operators think those will become available in a month or two.
Regulators are still hashing out rules for advertising, home delivery and online payments.
Cultivators and certain dispensaries could apply for additional stores, known as 10(B) licenses. Since these are brand new facilities, they likely won't open until sometime next year.
The law also created a social equity program to help business owners who were disenfranchised by marijuana prohibition. The state must award dispensary licenses as part of this, but it's unclear when that will happen.

Click here to read about yesterday's launch.

The politics of marijuana in Ohio

Yesterday wasn't exactly a big moment for the politicians who opposed Issue 2.

Gov. Mike DeWine and most Republican lawmakers are anti-marijuana, which is why we ended up with a ballot issue. Since then, the GOP-controlled Legislature has tried (and so far failed) to change the law. The legislative session isn't over yet, so we could still see something happen − especially during lame duck.

This is also an issue in Ohio's U.S. Senate race. Sen. Sherrod Brown was not always in favor of legalizing marijuana, but he came out in support of Issue 2. He also chairs the Senate Banking Committee that advanced a bill to make it easier for cannabis businesses to bank.

Brown's opponent, Republican Bernie Moreno, voted against Issue 2, arguing the matter should be addressed by state lawmakers. In an October interview , Moreno called marijuana a "gateway drug" and accused the issue's backers of trying to line their own pockets.

Moreno's campaign referred us to his past comments.

"While Sherrod stands with the majority of Ohioans who voted to legalize recreational marijuana last year, Bernie Moreno opposed Issue 2 and is on the wrong side of Ohioans," Brown spokesperson Eliza Green said.

Ban on gender-affirming care for minors back in place

A Franklin County judge ruled yesterday that Ohio's ban on gender-affirming care for minors can take effect immediately.

Reminder: Advocates sued over the law and say it violates the rights of transgender Ohioans to choose their own health care. They also contend it violates the single-subject rule for legislation, since it bans transgender girls from playing in female sports.

Judge Michael Holbrook temporarily blocked the law in April but changed his mind. The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio plans to appeal.

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