Latest news with #Issue2
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ohio doubles limit on cannabis 'flower' customers can purchase
Jun. 5—Ohio has reported more than $555 million in recreational cannabis sales, and starting this week Ohio dispensaries are permitted to sell more than twice the amount of cannabis flower they have sold to nonmedical customers since the program's launch. Dispensaries can now sell up to 2.5 ounces of dried marijuana plant material per customer per day, according to the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control. When Ohio's recreational cannabis program launched in August 2024, dispensaries were permitted to sell up to a single ounce of flower per customer, per day. Roughly 25 of the state's 147 dispensaries that are licensed to sell recreational cannabis are located in the Dayton region. Grace Bondy, spokesperson for Verano and Zen Leaf Dispensaries, said dispensaries welcome the change. Zen Leaf operates a Riverside location. "Allowing larger purchase quantities brings Ohio more in-line with neighboring states and mature cannabis markets, and is a win-win for consumers, businesses and the state," said Bondy. "Cannabis consumers will have increased purchase options, Ohio's legal cannabis retailers and cultivators have the opportunity to benefit from increased sales quantities, and local communities and the state stand to receive additional tax revenue from larger purchases." State officials said the lower limits were in place to ensure that access for Ohio's 454,947 registered medical marijuana patients was not inhibited. "The Division's priority continues to be ensuring medical marijuana patients have adequate supply and maintain their medical marijuana card, and the Division knows that licensees share that priority," the division said in its announcement. "Since non-medical cannabis sales began in August 2024, the market has demonstrated the ability to support both medical marijuana patients and non-medical consumers alike." "We are encouraged by the Division of Cannabis Control's updated guidance based on the market's ability to support both medical and adult use consumers, and look forward to celebrating one year of adult use cannabis in Ohio this upcoming August," Bondy said. Ohioans passed Issue 2 in 2023. Under Ohio law, customers 21 and older can buy up to 2.5 ounces of recreational cannabis at licensed dispensaries. Jennifer Cron, the general manager of Pure Ohio Wellness' dispensary in London, said the daily limits have been frustrating to dispensary operators and customers alike -many customers have wanted to purchase more than the state's limit, but they can't. "With an ounce taking all of the ten-day allotment, it left no room for additional items such as edibles or concentrates, therefore limiting their options of getting the variety they were looking to purchase," said Cron. "Many people drive quite a distance, and they prefer to buy larger quantities to prevent multiple trips. Being limited to that arbitrary number was definitely an issue that people consistently voiced their opinion on." Since the program's 2024 launch, a total of 84,537 pounds of plant material have been sold by Ohio dispensaries. An additional 9.3 million units of manufactured cannabis products have also been sold. The plant sales average for a one-tenth ounce in plant material was $18.74 as of this week, according to the Division of Cannabis Control's weekly sales report. This is a nearly 30% drop in price since the recreational program's start. Erick Rodriguez, VP of retail of The Cannabist Company, said the Columbia Care dispensary on Wayne Avenue in Dayton will be ready to meet any uptick in demand that results from the rule change. "We support Ohio's decision to increase daily purchase limits, which gives adult-use customers more flexibility and better reflects how people actually shop and consume cannabis," Rodriguez said. Under the updated rules, for purchases other than plant material, customers can buy up to 15,000 mg of THC between edibles, vapes and other products. All other products apply toward the customers' cannabis product limit of 15,000 mg of total THC content, according to the Division of Cannabis Control. These updated rules only apply to non-medical customers, the division said. Ohio medical marijuana patients and caregivers can purchase up to a 90-day supply of cannabis.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ohio voters approve Issue 2, allowing state to borrow $2.5B for infrastructure
May 6—Ohio voters approved a state constitutional amendment Tuesday to allow the state to issue up to $2.5 billion in bonds for infrastructure improvements. The Associated Press declared Issue 2 victorious before 9 p.m. Tuesday. As of 8:48 p.m. the measure was passing with 67.5% of the vote and over 30% of statewide precincts reporting, according to the Ohio Secretary of State's office. "Ohioans understand that our local roads and bridges and other basic infrastructure need ongoing improvement," said Sam Rossi, spokesman for pro-Issue 2 campaign the Strong Ohio Communities Coalition. "Our campaign was bolstered by strong bipartisan support from Ohio's elected lawmakers and a broad nonpartisan coalition that included leaders on behalf of business, labor, agriculture, transportation, public safety and local governments. There was no formal opposition to Issue 2. Issue 2 is a request from the state in the form of a constitutional amendment to issue up to $2.5 billion in bonds to help pay for local infrastructure projects over the next decade. Approval on May 6 would amend the Ohio Constitution, as the state generally needs constitutional approval in order to go into large amounts of debt. The bonds, if approved by a simple majority of voters, would go toward the State Capital Improvement Program and could only be used on roads, bridges, water treatment and supply systems and solid waste disposal facilities, according to the legislature's nonpartisan analysis. The state first issued a lump sum of general obligation bonds to fund SCIP in 1987. The approach has been approved by voters thrice since. The pending approval would be the biggest in state history, which lawmakers said was necessary due to inflation driving up the cost of projects. According to Ohio Public Works Commission Director Linda Bailiff, this bond approach has proven to be a successful, responsive way for local governments to make headway on infrastructure projects. "About 18,860 projects have been funded since the program's inception," Bailiff told lawmakers late last year. "Depending on the year, for every $1 of program funds another $2 to $3 is leveraged in other local, state, and federal sources." The state government has gone back to voters three times for permission to issue more general obligation bonds, most recently in 2014, says information from the League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland. Supporters say the state capital improvements program does not increase taxes, generally has bipartisan approval and reduces pressure on local jurisdictions to raise taxes for infrastructure improvements. The AP says that under the measure, up to $250 million of the total general obligation bonds authorized can be issued each year over 10 years, creating an estimated 35,000 construction jobs.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Zane Trace Local School income tax renewal passes
It was a light night for election results in Ross County, as there were only issues on the ballot and no contested races. According to the unofficial results from the Ross County Board of Elections, the Zane Trace Local School District's income tax renewal of 0.75 percent for a continuing period of time passed 589 to 518. More: Ross Correctional Institute unveils room dedicated to corrections officer Andrew Lansing The other issues on the ballot were local options for Sunday sales for wine and mixed beverages and spirituous liquor. The breakdown is as follows: American Legion Post 62: Passed 16 to 4 Amvets Post 4: Passed 16 to 4 Jerry's Pizza: Passed 26 to 5 The Postmark: Passed 28 to 7 Buffalo Wild Wings: Passed 25 to 13 Atomic Speedway: Defeated 18 to 14 Voters were also chiming in on the statewide Issue 2 to pay for local roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects, increasing the spending cap to $2.5 billion over 10 years. Ross County voters approved it 1,945 to 1,004. All of the results are unofficial until the the local board certifies them. This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Voters approve Zane Trace income tax renewal, most liquor options
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ohio voters approve local infrastructure measure, Issue 2
People cast their votes on the first day of early voting at East Point First Mallalieu United Methodist Church on Oct. 15, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by) According to unofficial results, Ohio voters approved a ballot measure Tuesday allowing the state to borrow $2.5 billion to support public works projects. The proposal, known as Issue 2, renews the State Capital Improvement Program — an initiative that has helped local governments fix roads, bridges, sewers and more since the late 1980s. This is the fourth time voters have approved a 10-year renewal of the program. To fund projects, the state will issue $2.5 billion in bonds, which is a notable increase from the $2 billion approved in the last renewal. Lawmakers sent the question to the ballot in the waning days of the previous legislative session, but the idea has not been controversial. A vast array of interest groups representing business, unions, agriculture and local governments all signed on in support. A conservative lawmaker and far-right organizers spoke out against the idea, but there was no organized opposition to the measure. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX In a statement the Strong Ohio Communities Coalition thanked Ohio voters for approving the initiative and lawmakers for putting it on the ballot. 'Ohioans understand that our local roads and bridges and other basic infrastructure need ongoing improvement,' Sam Rossi, the coalition's spokesman said. 'Our campaign was bolstered by strong bipartisan support from Ohio's elected lawmakers and a broad nonpartisan coalition that included leaders on behalf of business, labor, agriculture, transportation, public safety and local governments.' 'Thanks to our coalition's dedicated work across Ohio for the last few months,' he added, 'voters have once again said 'Yes' to strengthening our local communities by creating jobs and improving local roads and bridges.' Perhaps the most significant concern supporters faced was voter confusion in a low turnout election. As early voting was beginning, Republican lawmakers in the Ohio House were polishing off a plan to issue $600 billion in bonds for a new Cleveland Browns stadium. Lawmakers included that provision in their state budget proposal. In the run up to Election Day, Issue 2 supporters were working hard to differentiate their local infrastructure bonds from those supporting the Browns. It appears voters had little problem discerning one from the other. As of 8:20 pm, 'Yes' votes were surpassing 'No' by a nearly 40-point margin, and in Cuyahoga County where the Browns play, 'Yes' was winning by a more than 3-to-1 margin. This story will updated. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Associated Press
07-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Ohio voters approve ballot issue authorizing $2.5 billion in bonds over 10 years for infrastructure
Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio voters agreed to reauthorize a program on Tuesday that will provide $2.5 billion for roads, bridges and other needed local infrastructure projects over the next decade. State Issue 2 called for the renewal of the Ohio Capital Improvement Program, which was first authorized in 1987. Administered by the Ohio Public Works Commission, it relies on existing state revenues as opposed to raising taxes. Under the measure, up to $250 million of the total general obligation bonds authorized can be issued each year over 10 years, creating an estimated 35,000 construction jobs. The Strong Ohio Communities Coalition, a gathering of business, labor and civic organizations supported the measure, which attracted no significant opposition. Though it was listed on the ballot as Issue 2, Tuesday's ballot measure was the first and only statewide issue to appear. That's the result of a new numbering system approved by state lawmakers after the elections of 2023 and 2024 featured several ballot issues timed close together and called either Issue 1 or Issue 2. Ohio's next statewide ballot question will be labeled Issue 3. The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world's population sees AP journalism every day.
