Ohio state Senate Republicans are proposing vast changes to a recreational marijuana measure approved by voters last month.

Banning marijuana growing at home, increasing the substance’s tax rate and altering how those taxes get distributed are among vast changes Ohio Senate Republicans proposed Monday to a marijuana legalization measure approved by voters last month.

The changes emerged suddenly in committee just days before the new law is set to take effect, though their fate in the full Senate and the GOP-led House is still unclear.

The ballot measure, dubbed Issue 2, passed on the Nov. 7 election with 57 percent of the vote and it set to become law this Thursday, making Ohio the 24th state to legalize marijuana for adult recreational use. But as a citizen-initiated statute, the Legislature is free to make tweaks on it, of which they’re attempting plenty.

    • Nougat
      -5•1 year ago

      You left out the remainder of the context:

      Legal weed in Illinois is not terribly expensive, and you can have confidence in the quality, that it’s not adulterated, and that the money you spend on it isn’t filtering down to criminal organizations.

      Marijuana has been illegal at the state level in Illinois since 1931, and federally since 1937 (where, as we all know, it still is). Because of its history of illegality, a large black market has existed, and the operators of that black market are surely still active.

      Apples and spinach have never been illegal, for anyone of any age in any amount. There has not been a 90+ year old black market for apples or spinach.

      Having laws against something enjoyed by the out group enables all sorts of harassment, imprisonment, excuses for violence, etc.

      I agree, which is why I am quite happy that recreational marijuana is legal in Illinois, and so many other states.

        • Nougat
          -3•1 year ago

          Legalizing dispensaries (and having sane taxes) and growing would essentially eliminate the local cannabis black market or reduce it to a negligible size.

          Which is exactly what is happening. That black market doesn’t dissolve immediately. The previous long term illegality gave it deep roots. As above, five plants with a medical card is fully legal in Illinois. Five plants without a medical card is a $200 maximum fine with no jail time, which is decriminalization.

          I’m not even sure what you’re arguing about at this point.

          • @[email protected]
            1•1 year ago

            Not sure what point you are making it either.

            If the punishment for breaking a law is a FINE then it is only illegal for the poor.

            • Nougat
              1•1 year ago

              You’re not wrong, but nobody in Illinois is going to raid your house because you have five plants for personal use.

              Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.