Recreational Marijuana becomes legal but you won't find it in stores until the end of next year
Thursday December 7th, 2023 the law allowing recreational use of marijuana in Ohio takes effect.
But you shouldn't expect to walk into a dispensery and buy some later this week.
That's because Ohio lawmakers have hearings scheduled this week as they work out changes in the law, and details on how to make this happen.
December 7th individuals in Ohio 21 and older can possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis or grow six marijuana plants, or 12 plants per household with two or more adults living there for personal consumption.
Although recreational use of marijuana in the state will be legal, you still won't be able to walk into a dispensery or store and buy marijuana for recreational use immediately.
The State Department of Commerce has until next September to roll out a regulatory and the licensing process.
"They have to approve the growers, they have to approve the processors, they have to approve the stores, then after they do that you can go into a store and show an ID that your 21 or older, or a passport," Chairman of the Board of Riviera Creek, Brian Kessler said.
The Chairman of the Board of Riveria Creek which cultivates and processes medical cannabis explains why medical marijuana license holders should renew their license.
"For the next year the only way to buy legal marijuana in Ohio is through the medical program, so those who have been purchasing it for the last five years should renew their license," Brian Kessler emphasized.
In addition medical marijuana users would not pay the same tax as recreational users will have to.
They are subject to the regular state and local sales tax.
State lawmakers are determining how much to tax recreational marijuana. The law that voters passed levies a 10% tax on recreational marijuana
If it's taxed too high there are concerns this will drive people to continue to buy marijuana illegally on the street that might be a laced with another deadly drug.
Cultivators also believe regular THC levels are important or folks will buy it elsewhere.
"When you tax it over 30 percent people are going to go back to the street and try to bu y marijuana from drug dealers, or they're going to go to Michigan and buy it there," Brian Kessler added.
In Michigan an excise tax of 10% is levied on marijuana sales in addition to a 6% sales tax. In that state recreational marijuana became legal December 2018.
The Division of Cannabis Control will decide how and where people can buy seeds to grow marijuana at home.
The new law in Ohio does not mean you can show up to work or operate heavy equipment, or drive uner the influence.
