How Ohio lawmakers are trying to change marijuana rules
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio lawmakers are working to rewrite the recreational marijuana law voters approved two years ago with a bill that proposes at least 44 major changes.
Senate Bill 56, sponsored by state Sen. Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City), closely mirrors an effort that failed to pass last year.
'This is just another slap in the face,' state Sen. Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) said.
Dublin City Schools cancels plan to buy Cardinal Health building for $37 million
'The voters passed Issue Two and that is clear, but I do believe it is incumbent upon us as a General Assembly to make sure that we put some common-sense guidelines and guardrails in place,' state Sen. Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson), chairperson of the General Government Committee, said. Her committee is where the bill is being heard.
Among provisions in the proposed bill is decreasing the legal maximum THC level for marijuana extracts from 90% to 70%.
'It's like concentrated orange juice,' Huffman said. 'You don't drink concentrated orange juice; you're going to dilute it down so that it's a reasonable amount.'
The bill not only makes direct changes to marijuana content, but it also changes many things around it, like tax laws. Right now, the excise tax on recreational marijuana is 10%, this bill would increase it to 15%.
Current law divides the collected money this way:
36% to the Cannabis Social Equity and Jobs Fund: Used for social equity and job initiatives.
36% to the Host Community Cannabis Fund: Benefits municipal corporations or townships with adult use dispensaries.
25% to the Substance Abuse and Addiction Fund: Supports substance abuse and addiction services.
3% to the Division of Cannabis Control and Tax Commissioner Fund: Supports the operations of the Division of Cannabis Control and covers the tax administration costs.
Under SB 56, all the tax revenue would go to the state government, giving lawmakers control of how it is spent.
Nine-year-old Powell girl battles rare cancer, inspires others
'We should spend the money now and be fluid in the future on where the money is going to end up going,' Huffman said when asked if it would be spent in the state operating budget.
'There's no way that I'm going to let all this money go to general funds when voters clearly didn't want that,' DeMora said.
Not only does the bill defund the Social Equity and Jobs Program – it abolishes it. Huffman said he is open to some discussion.
'With social equity, what's the best way to achieve that,' he said.
The bill also prohibits any person from owning more than eight dispensaries, prohibits the possession of marijuana other than homegrown or from an Ohio dispensary, does not allow anyone to receive unemployment benefits if they are fired for using marijuana, and bans any public smoking.
Hundreds of foxes, wolf-dog hybrids, other animals rescued from NE Ohio 'fur farm'
'It is focused on the combustibles for because you can smell it and people find that offensive,' Huffman said.
'If you could smoke a cigarette walking down the street, you should be able to smoke marijuana walking down the street as far as I'm concerned,' DeMora said.
The legislation also removes protections from 'adverse actions' against marijuana users.
SB 56 would limit the number of dispensaries allowed in Ohio to 350. Right now, there are 128 certificates of operation.
'Supply and demand will increase the number going forward,' Huffman said. 'And I don't think 350 is set in stone and that we can change that going forward.'
Overall, opposition to the bill says it goes too far and ignores the will of the voters; backers of the bill said they want to add common-sense guidelines to existing law and keep Ohio from going down a bad path.
Pickerington teachers speak out about voyeurism incident
'I've seen, I saw Denver before marijuana was legalized and I've seen what's happened to it slowly over time after the legalization,' Roegner said. 'And it really is sad. I mean, Denver used to be such a beautiful city.'
'I'm going to try to be nice when one of my colleagues makes a statement like that, that I think is, that is not correct,' DeMora said. 'Making marijuana legal had nothing to do with people becoming homeless. I mean, that's ludicrous and I don't understand why someone would say that.'
Even though the bill is so extensive, DeMora said it is missing a key piece, which he said brought Democrats on board last General Assembly: expungement.
'There ought to be a mechanism to have these people's records expunged and not to have to go through hoops,' DeMora said. 'They're trying to make it tougher to have people that have this on their record get it expunged. It should be automatic. It should be state paying for it.'
Huffman said he is open to an expungement addition but did not specify what he wants it to look like.
'Does everybody get an automatic expungement? Do they have to have an active role? Are they just petitioning the court to be able to do that,' Huffman said.
After classroom brawl, Hilliard councilman pushes for safety increase
The bill also cuts the number of plants that can be grown in one house from 12 to six.
The bill had both sponsor and proponent hearings on Wednesday, so now it awaits opponent hearing.
The legislation does not have any provision concerning Delta-8 and other hemp products but Huffman said he will be introducing that soon, saying he plans to introduce a bill requiring those products only be sold to Ohioans 21 years of age and older and only through dispensaries. DeMora said he is agreeable to that measure.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Arkansans getting government assistance ask senators to vote down ‘Big Beautiful Bill'
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Arkansans receiving government assistance are asking Arkansas senators in Washington to vote against President Donald Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act.' Chanting 'The big ugly bill will kill,' about a dozen people spoke out against changes to Medicaid, SNAP, and HUD Housing in the 1,000-page bill while arguing that health, food and housing are human rights. Big, beautiful bill heads to the Senate Norma Huffman is a member of Arkansas Community Organizations, the group that organized a visit to the Washington D.C. and Little Rock offices of Senators Cotton and Boozman on Wednesday. 'We are here to try to convince the head honcho of this office to vote no,' Huffman stated. Huffman is a single parent and says she is permanently disabled. She is on Medicaid, SNAP, and housing assistance for her needs, and she fears what the future will hold if Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' becomes law. 'We have to fight for ourselves because we know for a fact nobody else is going to,' Huffman argued. The act proposes substantial cuts, restrictions, and added requirements for Medicaid and SNAP, shifting more costs to states, limiting eligibility, and repealing support programs. For HUD, the bill removes funding for cost-cutting green retrofitting. Hattie Temple says any change could be a triple blow to her and hundreds of thousands more. 'It makes our deficit higher. It doesn't make any sense. Everything that he (Trump) cuts is to keep the folks down that are already down,' Temple stated. Trump 'disappointed' by Musk criticism of 'big, beautiful bill' Senator John Boozman provided this statement when asked about the visit: 'Work requirements for able-bodied adults are a fair and effective way to ensure SNAP and Medicaid benefits are directed to those who truly need them. By implementing commonsense policies, we can strengthen the programs while eliminating waste, reducing federal spending and promoting accountability.' -Senator John Boozman At the time of this report, Senator Cotton's office has not replied to requests for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jim Cramer on Cardinal Health: 'I am a Believer'
Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE:CAH) is one of the 11 stocks on Jim Cramer's radar. Calling Cardinal Health, Inc.'s (NYSE:CAH) upcoming Investor Day a possible needle mover, Cramer said: 'Now, Thursday brings some analyst meetings that could move the needle. Cardinal Health, we've had them on a couple of times, tells a terrific story about how it's much more than a drug middleman. And I believe, I am a believer.' A senior physician in a modern healthcare institution administering medication to a patient. Cardinal Health (NYSE:CAH) provides medical products and services used in various care settings. The company delivers pharmaceuticals, equipment, and support tools while managing distribution, logistics, and pharmacy operations through healthcare-focused technology. On May 14, Cramer extensively commented on the company as he said: 'These stocks, namely Cardinal Health, Cencora, and McKesson, are seemingly perpetual residents on the new high list. Over the long haul, they're some of the best performers out there, and they've done great this year, as is pretty much always the case. And yet, doesn't it always feel like the drug distributors are just one bad day away from falling apart… Let's not forget that the drug distributors are making fortunes right now. Cardinal Health turned in an excellent set of numbers two weeks ago with double-digit earnings growth. Management put through a big boost in their full-year earnings forecast. Cardinal stock jumped 3% in response, climbing from $141 to $145, and it kept running for really a week after that, eventually setting at an all-time high of $154 just last Thursday. What a fabulous move… While we acknowledge the potential of CAH as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Lego retailer in Lewis Center shuts down after five years in business
LEWIS CENTER, Ohio (WCMH) – A Lego retailer in Lewis Center has closed its doors after five years in business. Bedlam Bricks, located at 1230 E. Powell Road, permanently shut down after its final day on Sunday. The business specialized in the resale of new, retired and rare Lego sets. What's new for 2025 at Ohio theme parks Cedar Point, Kings Island 'We want to extend our deepest gratitude to all of you—our loyal customers and community—for your unwavering support over the years,' a Facebook post announcing the closure reads. 'Your enthusiasm, creativity, and patronage have meant the world to us, and we are truly thankful for the memories we've built together.' Owner Kelly Casto told NBC4 the decision to close was primarily due to 'rising overhead costs' and an increased difficulty in sourcing new Lego products at a price that allowed the business to run profitably. Casto is a former banking IT specialist who collected thousands of Lego sets before opening his store, according to Destination Delaware County Ohio, an organization dedicated to promoting tourism in the area. He ran the store alongside his wife and daughter, offering Star Wars, NASCAR, Super Mario and Marvel Lego sets, alongside a variety of other products. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.