Ohio: House bill filed to gut legalization

On the heels of the Ohio Senate passing a bill to roll back cannabis freedoms, Rep. Brian Stewart (R) has proposed a House version of the outrageous bill. The House bill, HB 160, would re-criminalize innocuous conduct, reduce the potency cap on extracts to 70%, and eliminate funding for social equity and criminal justice reforms.

If you live in Ohio, tell your state representative: Hands off Issue 2, the people's legalization law.

In November 2023, 57% of Ohio voters approved Issue 2, legalizing cannabis for adults 21 and older. HB 160 and the Senate-passed bill (SB 56) are a slap in the face to those voters. Both bills re-criminalize passing a joint or otherwise sharing cannabis, possessing cannabis from Michigan and other states, and a wide array of other conduct. Meanwhile, Gov. DeWine has proposed doubling the cannabis excise tax from 10% to 20%.

People power defeated Ohio lawmakers' attempt to overturn the will of voters last year. But since then a new crop of lawmakers has been elected and Ohio has a new Speaker of the House, who vehemently opposed Issue 2. It's time to mobilize to save Issue 2.