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Floor vote expected on Ohio bill to legalize marijuana
By Marc Kovac
COLUMBUS
A lawmaker panel accepted substitute legislation Thursday to legalize medical marijuana in the state, setting up a floor vote on the bill for early next week.
The new version of House Bill 523 was approved by the Ohio House’s Select Committee on Medical Marijuana with a couple of additional amendments. Chairman Kirk Schuring, a Canton Republican, remained hopeful that a final bill could be ready for enactment before lawmakers break for their summer recess.
“We want to make sure as we move forward with medical marijuana in Ohio that we do it right, that it’s safe and efficacious for Ohioans,” Schuring said. “I think our plan does just that. I think we will see legislation enacted before the end of May.”
Ohioans for Medical Marijuana, the group pursuing one of two medical marijuana ballot issues, remained opposed to the latest version of the legislation.
“If the Legislature wants to provide patients with access to medical marijuana, they failed with this bill,” said Aaron Marshall, the group’s spokesman.
A final vote in the House is expected Tuesday. The legislation then would head to the Ohio Senate for further deliberations.
The gist of the legislation remains the same – allowing the use marijuana for medicinal purposes, though under the regulation and control of the state.
HB 523 calls for a new Medical Marijuana Control Commission to develop the rules for the cultivation, processing, retail sale and licensure of related businesses. The process would have to be completed within two years.
The panel would recommend any related fees, determine the number of cultivator and dispensary licenses, establish a registry to track patients and their medical conditions, and specify which forms of medical marijuana would be allowed. Medical marijuana use would have to be directed by a licensed physician.
The substitute bill accepted Thursday would shift a proposed Medical Marijuana Control Commission to the Ohio Department of Commerce, which also handles the state’s liquor regulations.
The commission would work with the state pharmacy and medical boards when developing recommendations for medical marijuana rules, which would ultimately have to be adopted by the commerce department.
The nine-member commission would be named by the governor and majority and minority party leaders of the Ohio House and Senate. The initial version had all members appointed by the governor.
Lawmakers retained prohibitions on home-grown marijuana, and they added language barring smoking the drug, though vaporization would be allowed. The substitute bill also would limit the tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, content of marijuana plant material.
Additionally, HB 523 specifies the medical conditions that would qualify for medical marijuana treatments, including AIDS, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, sickle cell anemia, Tourette’s syndrome and traumatic brain injuries. The state could add additional diseases or conditions in the future.
The amended legislation would prohibit doctors or marijuana-related businesses from advertising on television or radio.