COLUMBUS, Ohio — The campaign to repeal GOP-created marijuana restrictions and a total ban on intoxicating hemp products will not be making the ballot after they failed to collect enough signatures, according to their spokesperson. The law will go into effect Friday.
Signed into law in December, Senate Bill 56 makes dramatic changes to marijuana usage and bans low-level THC hemp products.
The Ohioans for Cannabis Choice campaign said it was unable to turn in the 250,000 valid signatures needed by its March 19 deadline.
"We want to thank the more than 5,000 Ohioans and businesses who volunteered their time and sweat to try to collect the signatures needed to put SB 56 before voters. Unfortunately, we were not able to overcome a truncated time period to give voters the chance to say no to government overreach. This doesn’t change the reality that marijuana will be re-criminalized in Ohio, businesses will close, workers will lose their jobs, and consumers will be denied their right to products they should be able to purchase,” spokesperson Dennis Willard said.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
“Voters overwhelmingly supported legalizing cannabis in 2023. It only makes sense that Gov. DeWine and state lawmakers should go back and ask those voters if they want to ban hemp and re-criminalize marijuana. We know, and our elected leaders know, the answer would be a resounding no,” Willard said.
Under S.B. 56, a dozen voter-approved provisions were criminalized.
The bill institutes a public smoking ban and prohibits smoking in cars. Also, it gives landlords the ability to prohibit smoking and vaping, bans outdoor venues from allowing marijuana and requires all products to be kept in the same package they were bought in.
It also makes it a crime to have an "open" marijuana container, meaning if someone has a baggie of edibles in the backseat of a Lyft or on a public bus — if it had ever been opened, they would be breaking the law.
It also makes it a crime to buy out-of-state cannabis. Federal law currently doesn't allow marijuana to go across state lines, but it isn't enforced. This would be an enforceable state provision preventing a citizen from going to Michigan, where the weed is cheaper, to buy.
The legislation also removes protections against discrimination for housing, employment and even organ donation.
As well, Democrats argue that a provision would allow for police to have probable cause during traffic stops if someone is a "known consumer" of marijuana.
For years, GOP leaders have argued that not only do they know what voters truly wanted when each person went to the polls, but that voters didn't know.
Community reaction
Local businesses told News 5 they’re fed up now that the new law will force them to stop selling certain THC products.
“This ban is going to definitely, directly impact my bottom line,” said Molly Cheraso.
As a small non-alcoholic business, Cheraso said adding THC drinks has been a game-changer at Verbena Free Spirited in Cleveland.
“Ever since we started carrying it, it’s been one of our biggest sellers. I would say it probably is 10-20%,” she said.
But now, Cheraso said those days are gone, leaving her with a lot of uncertainty about the future.
“I knew this ban was coming. I haven’t been restocking. You’ll see I have some empty shelves over here where the THC products used to be,” said Cheraso. “I’m definitely very disappointed that the state couldn’t figure out a way to make this feasible for responsible business owner.”
Starting Friday, the legislation will impact Cheraso and local breweries like Saucy Brew Works where Brent Zimmerman said THC seltzers are sold.
“We all see what is going on as it relates to consumption, and younger people have decided different things,” said Zimmerman. “It’s a bit of a shame because the generations that are younger than me have decided they don’t think alcohol is great for them.”
For months, News 5 has been telling you about Senate Bill 56 and why some Republicans said it is needed because hemp products are unregulated and have no age requirement to buy.
“The products that are the edibles primarily the stuff that’s unregulated, we don’t know where it came from. It’s also actually targeting children,” said Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) in February.
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