Ohio lawmakers held a brief hearing on Tuesday to consider two marijuana legalization bills—one sponsored by Democrats and the other led by Republicans.
Both bills before the House Finance Committee would tax and regulate cannabis for adults over the age of 21, though they have significant differences between them.
Neither proposal is expected to pass this session, but the hearing provided an opportunity to hear debate on cannabis reforms that some lawmakers framed as inevitable as activists gear up to potentially place a legalization measure on the November 2023 ballot.
Rep. Casey Weinstein (D), one of the sponsors of HB 382, spoke first. Noting lost revenue to neighboring states that have already legalized cannabis, such as Michigan, Weinstein argued that his bill presents an opportunity for “investing critical dollars directly into our communities,” with funding for infrastructure and K-12 education, as well as general funding for counties and municipalities that host retail locations.
Beat Michigan. Legalize weed in Ohio! https://t.co/Qk4SIve2UV
— Rep. Casey Weinstein (@RepWeinstein) December 6, 2022
“For the first two years of the program, $20 million of marijuana tax revenues would also be earmarked for clinical trials into marijuana’s efficacy for treating veterans’ medical conditions and preventing
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