Ohio Senate Leader Rejects Recreational Cannabis Petition
In a setback for cannabis legalization advocates, Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman said Wednesday that he will not support a petition to legalize recreational marijuana.
The statement from Huffman, a Republican, comes after organizers of the petition effort announced last month that they had gathered enough signatures to compel the state Legislature to consider their proposal. If lawmakers do not pass the bill within the next few months, the measure could appear on the November ballot.
Huffman told reporters that he opposes legalizing recreational marijuana because there are “still too many questions” about its effects. He also cited concerns about how such a law might be implemented and enforced.
Cannabis legalization advocates expressed disappointment with Huffman’s announcement.
Ohio Senate Says No to Recreational Marijuana Legalization
Senate President Matt Huffman just said no to recreational marijuana, effectively ending the prospects of legalization in Ohio this year. Last month, state officials determined that organizers gathered enough signatures to compel the Legislature to consider a recreational marijuana bill. If lawmakers don’t pass it within the next few months, the measure could appear on the November ballot. In his news conference Wednesday, Huffman cited concerns about how such a law might be implemented and enforced as his reasons for opposing legalization. Cannabis legalization advocates expressed disappointment with Huffman’s announcement. This is a developing story and we will continue to update it as more information becomes available.
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-In Ohio, Senate President Matt Huffman just said no to recreational marijuana.
-Last month, state officials determined organizers gathered enough signatures (about 133,000) to compel the Legislature to consider a recreational marijuana bill they proposed. If lawmakers don’t pass it in the next roughly 3.5 months, organizers with the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol can gather the same number of signatures again to place the issue on the general election ballot.
-Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Huffman, a Lima Republican and one of the most powerful figures in state politics, reiterated his opposition to legalization.
-“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” Huffman said. “I don’t think that we should be legalizing marijuana in Ohio. I was opposed to it when it was on the ballot before and I continue to be opposed to it.”
-Huffman said he doesn’t want Ohio to legalize marijuana while the state is still trying to figure out how to properly regulate medical cannabis, which voters approved in 2016.
-The Legislature has just over three months to act on the proposed recreational marijuana bill if they want to avoid a ballot initiative.
If lawmakers don’t pass the bill, organizers say they will gather the same number of signatures to place the issue on the general election ballot.
-Stay tuned for more cannabis legalization news here at Cannabis Legalization News.
-What do you think about Ohio Senate Leader Matt Huffman’s opposition to recreational cannabis? Let us know in the comments below.
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