Legislative Pulse: Navigating HB 354 and Shaping Ohio's Cannabis Future

Happy holidays to you and your family! We hope this message finds you well and seek to keep you informed about the latest developments in the Ohio cannabis landscape.

Today, we bring you a roundup of recent events related to Ohio House Bill 354 (HB 354), shedding light on a few of the testimonies that have been instrumental in shaping the discourse.

Read HB 354 as introduced here.

Testimonies from patients, industry experts, and advocates have played a crucial role in illustrating the profound impact of cannabis on various aspects of life. Here are a few highlights from the community:

Cat Parker: “Puff, Puff, Police” Cat provided testimony that Ohio voters were intelligent and aware of our decision to reduce police in the cannabis community and support social equity. We the community, do not wish to see tax dollars fund jails or law enforcement. Issue 2 specifies funds where tax revenue will go. Why do we need to change that before allowing it a chance?

Fadi Boumitri: Fadi’s written testimony asks, ”If you said you want marijuana usage in Ohio to benefit Ohio, then you need to allow Issue 2 to stand as it was written.” He illustrates the importance of not raising the tax rate; seeing as it will provide Michigan markets an advantage

Tim Johnson: The founder of Cannabis Safety First, passed around the packaging currently used in the medical marijuana program in an attempt to allay any concerns about lax rules. He also advises against a large portion of revenues going to law enforcement. "Law enforcement doesn't have a financial problem," he said. He also questioned why it was the cannabis community's responsibility to pay for law enforcement when other industries have caused many of the problems. Callender said that many of the changes outlined by Johnson in his submitted testimony – such as criminal justice reforms – are tangential to Issue 2.

Brandon Baker: A voice for responsible home grows, Brandon testifies that we are adults who deserve the personal liberty and autonomy that society values for cannabis home growers. He also adds that there should be a route for aspiring growers to get into the industry besides working for someone else. Brandon requests the creation of a craft license at 500 sq. ft. for those who wish to enter the industry with a smaller barrier to entry than millions of dollars for a cultivation license.

Amy Ellwood: Representing her hemp farm and many local Ohio hemp farmers, she asked that they not be forgotten when it comes to the new Level 3 cultivation licenses as they already work with the plant intimately and have the infrastructure. She also addresses the concerning language in House Bill 86. Under Section 928.01, Lines 306-309, it reads “Any item containing more than five-tenths of a milligram of delta-9 THC per serving, two milligrams of delta-9 THC per package, or any other THC.” This would make full-spectrum CBD illegal and is a step backward from a more legalized cannabis market that Issue 2 is seeking to create for Ohioans.

Alex Sandorf: His testimony was regarding the THC potency caps and the disregard for consumer safety this would impose. Lowering cannabis extracts to 50% would require the use of additives that are either not proven to be safe; or worse, proven to be unsafe. Using fillers will create harm to the end consumer and the will of the people passed Issue 2 with the potency at 90%.

Stay tuned for more updates on HB 354 and its implications for the future of cannabis in Ohio. Your support and engagement are vital as we navigate these exciting developments together.

For those who wish to rewatch all the testimonies please click the links below:

Ohio House Finance Committee Dec. 12th Testimony

Ohio House Finance Committee Dec. 13th Testimony

Be well,

The Ohio Cannabis Health and Business Summit Team

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