Ohio becomes 25th state to legalize medical marijuana

[jct74]

Gov. John Kasich signs medical marijuana bill into law

By Jackie Borchardt
June 08, 2016

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- With little fanfare, Gov. John Kasich on Wednesday signed a law creating a strictly regulated medical marijuana program.

Kasich's communications team announced the signing without any comment, simply including it in a list with several other bills the governor also signed Wednesday.

The new law goes into effect 90 days after the bill is officially filed with the secretary of state, making the marijuana legal sometime in early September.

At that time, patients will have an "affirmative defense" against prosecution for marijuana possession charges if they have written permission from their doctor to use marijuana in a form allowed under the law. It could be a year or more until Ohioans can walk into a dispensary and buy medical marijuana.

Kasich forewent a public signing ceremony, opting to ink the bill with dozens of others late Wednesday afternoon.

Kasich opposed last year's recreational marijuana measure and said at the time that medical marijuana wasn't the answer for Ohioans suffering untreatable seizures and other debilitating diseases. His position on medical marijuana softened while campaigning to be the GOP's presidential nominee, saying he'd look at the issue.

...

read more:
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2016/06/gov_john_kasich_signs_medical.html

 

[acptulsa]

Half the states! Half!

Prohibition seems to be well on its way out the door!

 

[Ronin Truth]

Medical! <wink, wink, nudge, nudge>

 

[pcosmar]

Medical! <wink, wink, nudge, nudge>

Nose of Camel.

 

[bunklocoempire]

From both hands on the throat, to one hand on the throat, and one hand on the wallet.
If I was the state, it would be in my interest to hire more hands for the throat, using the money taken from the new wallet -for safety of course.

Unfortunately, the camel doesn't ever really just show up alone.

 

[Koz]

I live in Ohio and this bill is pretty terrible. There is still likely to be a ballot initiative this November.

The law is so bad that all of the pro marijuana groups declined to support it when it was working its way through the legislature.

 

[pcosmar]

I live in Ohio and this bill is pretty terrible. There is still likely to be a ballot initiative this November.

The law is so bad that all of the pro marijuana groups declined to support it when it was working its way through the legislature.

Perhaps so.
The same was said about Washington,, and the tier system,, and the taxes.

after a year they both lowered and simplified the tax.

every state is doing it differently,, but they are doing it.

Hopefully the market will sort out. I am pleased with the local markets. (2 states)

Oregon started with Medical,, then open the recreational. Medical dispensaries can sell recreational.
I am listed on receipts as a patient.

 

[jct74]

There is still likely to be a ballot initiative this November.

nope, the ballot initiative was cancelled

http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2016/05/ohioans_for_medical_marijuana.html

 

[ProIndividual]

The other initiative that got canceled was for medical weed, not the ones being worked on for recreational. That will be tried again, sooner or later.

 

[Koz]

nope, the ballot initiative was cancelled

http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2016/05/ohioans_for_medical_marijuana.html

I think there is still another ballot initiative.

 

[jct74]

I think there is still another ballot initiative.

yes, Grassroots Ohio is trying to put a medical marijuana initiative on the ballot but they are shooting for 2017 now.

https://grassrootsoh.org/2016/05/28/grassroots-ohio-continues-to-target-2017-for-individual-rights/


I'm skeptical they'll be able to collect enough signatures though without the kind of funding that MPP had. And the newly passed bill will take some of the wind out of their sails too. I don't see it going anywhere.