The Ohio House Finance Committee held the first hearing on Tuesday, December 6, to hear the bill proposals currently written to establish a legal adult use cannabis market. Lawmakers listened to testimony presented by legislators who presented two bills, one sponsored by Democrats, and the other by Republicans.
Ohio House Bill 382 – H. B. No.382
Watch the subcommittee meeting HERE
House Bill 382 is sponsored by Representatives Casey Weinstein (D) and Terrence Upchurch (D). This bill would allow adults aged 21 and older to possess, grow, and use cannabis. According to Representative Weinstein’s opening statement, “a few key reasons why legalization makes sense for our state now, includ[es] economics, equity, and safety.”
Rep. Weinstein was the first to provide testimony in support of the bill. He began his argument with the fact that Ohio is losing tax dollars to neighboring states that have adult-use cannabis available. “Last year, Michigan saw more than $1 Billion of recreational cannabis sales, bringing in nearly $150 million in tax revenue”, stated Rep. Weinstein. He goes on to explain how Ohio could legalize adult-use cannabis and charge a 10% excise tax, which could, in turn, be used to maintain infrastructure, fund the public education system, give back to the communities who give these cannabis businesses a place to operate, and designate money for clinical trials to research how cannabis could help veterans with their mental and physical health issues.
Weinstein continues to explain how the industry would be a boost for job creation and create “entrepreneurship opportunities”. The pool of potential employees could also be enlarged by this bill’s expungement clause. This bill would “expunge records for nonviolent offenders, allowing greater workplace participation in a shrinking labor force”. It has the potential to not only give Ohio citizens a new lease on life but also give employers the opportunity to hire someone qualified for the job who might have otherwise been passed up.
Representative Weinstein wraps up his testimony by explaining that this new law would not affect the current medical marijuana program and would remain separate from it. Instead of being overseen by the Board of Pharmacy, the adult-use market would be under the Department of Commerce. He also makes the case that not only does research not support the idea that using cannabis increases your likelihood to use harder drugs, but there are patients in Ohio that could benefit from medical cannabis yet cannot participate in the program due to the cost and restrictions.
Representative Terrence Upchurch provided a written testimony, which focused on the equity aspect of this bill. “We know once a person has a record, their life gets much harder. It is harder to obtain jobs, no job means no money, and no money means not being able to provide for your family and this can lead a person back down a path of nonviolent crime (petty theft, drug distribution, etc.). By allowing the expungement of certain marihuana convictions we give people a second chance at life.” Rep. Upchurch references the recent presidential proclamation by President Biden stating that non-violent federal marijuana offenders should be pardoned and released from prison. President Biden even urged the States to do the same. House Bill 382 would give Ohio a clear pathway to participating in this call to action.
Ohio House Bill 498 –H. B. No.498
After Representative Casey Weinstein completed his testimony, it was time for Representative Jamie Callender to come up to the podium and present his testimony for House Bill 498, cosponsored by Representative Ron Ferguson. HB 498 would allow Ohioans 21 and older to use cannabis purchased from a licensed retailer. Much like HB 382, this bill would also include an excise tax of 10% and allocate those funds to certain groups. HB 498 would distribute these funds to the State General Revenue Fund, the Department of Safety “to combat drug trafficking”, and the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services “to combat substance abuse and addiction”.
Rep. Callender references the many states that have already passed such legislation. He believes this bill is a robust piece of legislation, offering “a strong regulatory agency under the Ohio Department of Commerce”. According to Rep. Callender, “HB 498 will put Ohio on the path to create a regulated cannabis industry that will set the standard for how to promote industry growth while maintaining the protections necessary to keep our communities safe.”
Representative Ron Ferguson co-sponsored this bill but was not present at the hearing. Rep. Ferguson provided his written testimony to the committee. Rep. Ferguson’s testimony laid out the bill in greater detail. He explains that not only would adults 21 and older be allowed to use cannabis, but they would also be allowed to grow limited quantities in a secure space at home. HB 498 would combine the adult-use program with the medical marijuana program. This would take the medical marijuana program out of the hands of the Board of Pharmacy and into the hands of the Department of Commerce. Additionally, the adult-use program would utilize the cultivators already in operation, allowing them to expand the size of their growing space.
Compare and Contrast
Both of these bills would allow an adult 21 years of age or older to possess, use, and grow cannabis. The possession limit for HB 498 is up to 50 grams of cannabis, with no more than 8 grams being in concentrate form. However, HB 382 allows for up to 5 ounces of cannabis flower and 15 grams of hashish.
When it comes to home grow, HB 498 would allow an adult consumer to “cultivate, grow, process, and transport not more than six marijuana plants per household, with three or fewer of such plants being mature flowering plants, and possess the marijuana produced by the plants on the premises where the plants were grown or cultivated, provided that the growing and cultivation takes place in an enclosed, locked space, is not conducted openly or publicly, and is not made available for sale”. Alternatively, HB 382 states that “No person shall knowingly cultivate more than twelve marihuana plants”. HB 382 also requires any plants being grown to be out of the public eye and in a locked environment.
Both bills lack employment protection. This means that even if cannabis is legal, a potential or current employer may still choose to drug test you for THC and discriminate against you based on a positive result. There is also no section allowing for housing protection. Smoking cannabis on a rental property could end up getting you evicted.
What Can YOU Do to Help?
When it comes to creating change, the more people participating, the better. Since there is more than one bill to consider, start by reading the bills and the legislators’ testimonies to figure out which one seems to align with your core beliefs. From there, you can reach out to the House Finance Committee and let them know that you want them to support the bill of your choice or add employment and/or housing protections. It is best if your personal legislator is on the House Finance Committee since they will be key players in the passing or rejection of the bill, however, all voices are valid. Whether or not you are a constituent in their districts, you are still a member of the state they represent.
First, Are You a Registered Voter?
Every voice counts, but the voices who vote count the most. Before reaching out to legislators, make sure you are a registered voter. If you are not sure, you can look up your voter registration status on the Secretary of State’s website. If you are not registered, there is a link on the website to allow you to register online.
Once you know you are registered, look at your information to find your voter district. Take that information over to the Ohio Legislature’s website. There is a directory of all of the Senators and Representatives. Find the ones in your district. When you click on their profile, you will find their address, email, and phone number. You will also be able to see if they are on the House Finance Committee or not.
If your legislator is not on the House Finance Committee, that’s ok. You now just need to find what legislators are members of the committee. From the homepage of the Ohio Legislature’s website, click on the link for “Committees” at the top. Scroll down and find the “Finance” committee. Once you click on the committee link, you will see a list of legislators on the committee. Click on their profiles to get their contact information.
How to Call/Write a Legislator
So you have looked up your voter registration and found the legislators you will be contacting. Now, you need to decide how you will contact them. You will need to decide if you are going to call, write a letter, or write an email. Whatever you choose is fine, but keep in mind that a handwritten letter goes a long way.
If you choose to call a legislator, you might only get ahold of their voicemail or their legislative aide. The legislators are constantly busy and rarely answer their own phones. Leave a message either on the machine or with their legislative aide. The message will be passed on to the legislator.
Writing a letter or email can go through a similar process. It is far more likely that the legislative aide will be reading it and then providing the information to the legislator. This is why a handwritten letter leaves a bigger impression. The effort to handwrite a letter is typically appreciated and the aides and legislators will spend more time reading and researching your message.
Following through
Once you have decided on your method of delivery, now is the time to execute. If you are making a phone call, make sure to introduce yourself with your name, the fact that you are a registered voter, and the district you are registered in. Once you have introduced yourself, you just need to ask that this legislator supports the bill of your choice. For example, “Hello, my name is Mary Smith and I am a registered voter in the 26th District. I am calling to ask Representative John Doe to support House Bill 123”. It is as simple as that. Always end the conversation/voicemail by thanking them for their time and providing contact information so that they can reach out to you if they need clarification.
If you are writing an email or a letter, make sure to use a formal format. You will want to address the letter to the Legislator. Instead of saying “Dear John Doe”, start the letter with “Dear Representative John Doe”. Always address them by their formal title to show respect. Start your letter by stating your name, voter status, and the district you reside in. Then follow that with a succinct statement of which bill you want them to support. For example, “My name is Mary Smith and I am a registered voter in the 26th District. I am writing to ask you to support House Bill 123”. Once you have let them know why you are reaching out, you can provide reasons as to why you want them to support this bill. It can be a personal story or a logical point. Regardless, make sure you do not write too much; keep it short and sweet. Always end the email or letter by thanking them for their time and include your contact information in case they have any questions.
Closing Thoughts
Every voice counts. Every action matters. These bills are not perfect, but they are a step in the right direction. Get involved and help Ohio thrive!
Watch the subcommittee meeting HERE
House Bill 382
Representatives Casey Weinstein and Terrence Upchurch
House Bill 498
Representatives Jamie Callender and Ron Ferguson
Check Your Voter Status
Example Letter to a Legislator
House Finance Committee
- CHAIR
Scott Oelslager (R)
District 48
77 South High Street
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 752-2438
- VICE-CHAIR
Phil Plummer (R)
District 40
77 South High Street
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 644-8051
- RANKING MEMBER
Bride Rose Sweeney (D)
District 14
77 South High Street
10th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-3350
- Cindy Abrams (R)
District 29
77 South High Street
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-9091
*Assistant Majority Whip of the House
- Brian Baldridge (R)
District 90
77 South High Street
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-2124
- Willis E. Blackshear, Jr. (D)
District 39
77 South High Street
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-1607
- Jamie Callender (R)
District 61
77 South High Street
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 644-6074
*Sponsor of HB 498
- Sara P. Carruthers (R)
District 51
77 South High Street
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 644-6721
- Jon Cross (R)
District 83
77 South High Street
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-3819
- Jay Edwards (R)
District 94
77 South High Street
12th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-2158
- Haraz N. Ghanbari (R)
District 3
77 South High Street
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-8104
- James M. Hoops (R)
District 81
77 South High Street
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-3760
- Catherine D. Ingram (D)
District 32
77 South High Street
10th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-1645
- Dontavius L. Jarrells (D)
District 25
77 South High Street
10th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-5343
- Brigid Kelly (D)
District 31
77 South High Street
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-5786
- Darrell Kick (R)
District 70
77 South High Street
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-2994
- J. Kyle Koehler (R)
District 79
77 South High Street
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-2038
- Jeff LaRe (R)
District 77
77 South High Street
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-8100
- P. Scott Lipps (R)
District 62
77 South High Street
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 644-6023
- Adam C. Miller (D)
District 17
77 South High Street
10th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 644-6005
- Michael J. O’Brien (D)
District 64
77 South High Street
10th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-5358
- Thomas F. Patton (R)
District 7
77 South High Street
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-4895
- Tracy M. Richardson (R)
District 86
77 South High Street
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-8147
- Bill Roemer (R)
District 38
77 South High Street
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 644-5085
- Elgin Rogers, Jr. (D)
District 44
77 S. High St
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-1401
- Jean Schmidt (R)
District 65
77 South High Street
12th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-8134
- Michael J. Skindell (D)
District 13
77 South High Street
10th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-5921
- Jason Stephens (R)
District 93
77 South High Street
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-1366
- Reggie Stoltzfus (R)
District 50
77 South High Street
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-9078
- D. J. Swearingen (R)
District 89
77 South High Street
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 644-6011
- Daniel P. Troy (D)
District 60
77 South High Street
10th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-7251
- Thomas West (D)
District 49
77 South High Street
10th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-8030
- Shane Wilkin (R)
District 91
77 South High Street
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-3506
Have questions about how to get involved with Ohio advocacy efforts? Reach out to us at medicateOH@gmail.com.
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