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 …

Medical marijuana proposal heads to Ohio House

By Alan Johnson The Columbus Dispatch Faster than you could say “tetrahydrocannabinol,” an Ohio House committee approved medical marijuana legislation today, clearing the way for a likely vote by the full House on Tuesday. House Bill 523 was quickly voted out by a special committee this morning with only two minor amendments and no discussion. The vote culminated months of …

Changes expected to Ohio House’s HB523 proposal to legalize medical marijuana

The head of the Ohio House panel considering legislation to legalize medical marijuana said April 28 that changes to the proposed law changes likely will be offered in coming days. Rep. Kirk Schuring (R-Canton), chairman of the Select Committee on Medical Marijuana, said he expected a substitute version of HB 523 next week. “I’ve been getting input from the committee, …

4 reasons why Ohioans for Medical Marijuana say their initiative should be on the ballot

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Marijuana is about the healing, not the high. That was the take-away Tuesday from a news conference hosted by Ohioans for Medical Marijuana, a political action group that wants to put an initiative on the November ballot for a comprehensive medical marijuana program. Ohioans for Medical Marijuana and its supporters are critical of legislation to legalize medical marijuana. The …

Ohio patients push ballot over bill for medical marijuana

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Patients and their families who are backing a medical marijuana ballot issue in Ohio said Wednesday that the proposed constitutional amendment offers a quicker and more effective way for them to get relief than legislation. Two patients with debilitating illnesses and the mother of a boy with brain cancer appeared at a news conference to support …

Efforts to legalize marijuana in Ohio differ in who can grow, who can use

Ohio appears likely to become the 25th state to approve medical marijuana, either through a new state law or a voted constitutional amendment. State lawmakers and two citizen advocacy groups are working simultaneously on proposals to bring marijuana as medicine to Ohioans with qualifying medical conditions. But how the legislature and advocates approach the subject is very different, and the …

Medical marijuana supporters form campaign team

A leader in last year’s effort to thwart a proposal to legalize marijuana was named Monday in Ohio to run a possible November campaign to legalize medical marijuana. Ohioans for Medical Marijuana said Brandon Lynaugh will be the campaign manager. He worked on several previous statewide ballot issues, including the campaign last fall to defeat state Issue 3, which would …

Ohio lawmakers want medical marijuana legalized by summer

By JULIE CARR SMYTH AP Statehouse Correspondent COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Ohio lawmakers plan to legalize medical marijuana by summer in an effort they say is more responsible and comprehensive than any ballot proposal. It comes as a medical marijuana question is working its way to Ohio’s fall ballot. Republican House leaders set an aggressive timeline Wednesday for legalization legislation …

Ohio lawmakers to introduce comprehensive medical marijuana bill

COLUMBUS, Ohio — State lawmakers said Wednesday they will introduce a medical marijuana bill this week, but many of the details won’t be known until months after it has passed the General Assembly. Legislative leaders said at a Wednesday press conference they plan to fast-track the bill to Gov. John Kasich before they leave town in June, ahead of a …