A law legalizing recreational marijuana will take effect in Ohio beginning Thursday, meaning adults over 21 will be allowed to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and up to 15 grams of marijuana concentrate.
The change taking effect later this week will mark exactly one month after Ohio voters passed the initiative – Issue 2 – on the November 7 ballot which implements the change. Issue 2 passed with 56.97 percent of the vote last month, according to election results published by the Ohio Secretary of State’s office.
Beginning Thursday, adults 21 years and older will be permitted to use, possess, and transport marijuana that was legally obtained in the State. In addition, an adult consumer will be permitted to transfer marijuana to another adult consumer, as long as the transfer is without compensation and is not advertised or promoted to the public.
In regards to growing marijuana, adults 21 years and older will be permitted to grow and possess no more than six cannabis plants at the individual’s primary residence. There would be a limitation of no more than 12 cannabis plants per residence where two or more people 21 years and older reside at one time.
Issue 2 also sets a sales tax rate of 10 percent on marijuana purchases, in addition to any existing sales taxes.
With the new law comes concern, especially in regards to safety.
While the new law prohibits adult consumers from operating vehicles while under the influence of marijuana, studies have shown that states with legalized recreational marijuana experience an increase in car crashes.
In 2022, a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that states with legalized recreational marijuana experienced an overall 5.8 percent increase in injury crashes and a 4.1 percent increase in fatal crashes.
Under federal law, marijuana is still classified as a Schedule I drug with a high potential for abuse and little to no medical benefit.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Verde Natural Cannabis Dispensary” by My 420 Tours. CC BY-SA 4.0.
