Ohio State’s lobbying influence felt in research-friendly medical marijuana bill

Though House Bill 523, Ohio’s medical marijuana bill, would take months or years to take full effect, and it hasn’t been signed into law by Gov. John Kasich yet, some at Ohio State are already gearing up for the research opportunities that could come from the legislation. That’s because the government affairs team at OSU’s Wexner Medical Center worked to …

Will Ohio’s Medical Marijuana Law Get Stiff-Armed by Its Governor?

Governor Kasich could derail a recently passed medical marijuana law in Ohio. Following intense negotiations and a close vote, Ohio’s senate passed a medical marijuana bill last week that allows patients in the Buckeye state access to cannabis. However, the bill could still end up in the wastebasket if Ohio governor John Kasich decides to veto it. Will he or …

Rob Kampia From Marijuana Policy Project On Suspending Legalization Efforts In Ohio

Dear Friend — On Wednesday night, the Ohio Legislature passed a medical marijuana bill that’s based on OMM’s ballot initiative. When Gov. John Kasich (R) signs the bill into law, Ohio will become the 25th state to legalize medical marijuana! Because of this “conversion in Columbus,” we’re suspending the signature drive to place our initiative on the November 8 ballot. …

Ohio Medical Marijuana Plan Heads To Gov. Kasich Desk!

Ohio could soon become the 25th state to legalize medical marijuana if Gov. John Kasich signs a plan passed Wednesday. By a margin of just three votes, senators approved legalizing medical marijuana while still prohibiting smoking and growing marijuana at home. The close vote showed how divided Ohio lawmakers remain on marijuana, even for medical purposes. But in the end, a majority wanted …

Ohio Major Step Closer To Legalizing Medical Marijuana!

By Laura A. Bischoff Columbus bureau The push to legalize medical marijuana in Ohio took a historic step forward on Tuesday when the House voted 71-26 in favor of a bill that would authorize doctors to recommend pot use to their patients. The House-backed plan would not allow home grow or smoking medical marijuana, would let local jurisdictions block it …

House Passes Medical Marijuana Plan In Historic Vote!

By: Jessie Balmert of Cincinnati.com COLUMBUS – In a first for Ohio legislators, House lawmakers passed a plan to legalize medical marijuana after a lengthy debate and hand wringing on both sides of the aisle. After years of opposing plans to legalize marijuana, medicinal or otherwise, House lawmakers passed a plan 71-26 Tuesday. Members of GOP-controlled House – under pressure from two medical marijuana efforts shooting …

Springfield lawmaker to host forum on medical marijuana bill Monday May 9th

By Matt Sanctis A Springfield lawmaker will host a public forum at 6:30 p.m. Monday, seeking input from area residents about proposed legislation to legalize medical marijuana. Ohio House members could vote on House Bill 523 as early as next week. If approved, it would allow patients to use marijuana for medical purposes but would still prohibit growing or selling …

Ohio Medical Marijuana Bill Advances, But Activists Are Not Celebrating

By Kristen Gwynne A revised bill to legalize medical marijuana in Ohio cleared a House panel on Thursday, readying the proposed legislation for a House vote next week. Despite the legislative victory, Ohioans for Medical Marijuana, a group working to put their own medical marijuana initiative for the November ballot, takes issue with the legislature’s restrictive plan. An amendment requiring …

Can Ohio lawmakers stop efforts to put medical marijuana on the ballot?

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio lawmakers working on a medical marijuana bill have two difficult tasks ahead of them — persuade their conservative colleagues to approve legislation and convince voters their solution is better than a ballot initiative. Most lawmakers in the GOP-controlled General Assembly don’t like the idea of legalizing marijuana for any use. But all signs indicate Ohioans would …

Smoking, high-potency pot outlawed in Ohio’s medical marijuana bill: What you need to know

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Patients using marijuana could not smoke marijuana flowers nor use cannabis with high levels of THC under revisions expected to be made Wednesday to Ohio’s proposed medical marijuana law. State lawmakers wrestled with the idea someone would “smoke their medicine” and had initially wanted an appointed commission to decide whether Ohio would allow smoking. But revisions planned …