HOW LEGAL IS MARIJUANA IN OHIO?
The legalization of medical marijuana has swept through most of the Northeast. Legalization of recreational marijuana has swept the entire West Coast. Ohio sits in a middle ground that can be difficult to understand. Medical marijuana was partially legalized in 2016, but details were sometimes murky.
Marijuana laws changed in our state this spring. You may now be asking where the legality of marijuana lies in Ohio.
Medical marijuana in Ohio
Medical marijuana has had a difficult time getting a foothold in Ohio for the last few years. There continues to be a stigma against medicinal use among doctors, with fewer than three in 10 professionals having any interest in acquiring a license to prescribe cannabis. Despite this, medical marijuana has become officially legal in Ohio.
Cincinnati.com has reported that a group of over thirty doctors have been approved to recommend that their patients be eligible to use marijuana medically. Five of these physicians are here in Cincinnati. Patients who suffer from a multitude of ailments including Alzheimerâs disease, Hepatitis C, HIV and traumatic brain injury may be eligible.
Some states who have been slow to legalize medical marijuana have also been slow to roll out how it may be ingested. By contrast, Ohio offers a cannabis may be used. Oils, capsules and transdermal patches are among the options dispensaries offer, as well as vaporization methods for the plant itself.
Recreational marijuana use
Ohio was one of the first states to decriminalize possession of marijuana. Despite these lighter penalties, possession and recreational use of marijuana is still very much illegal.
The penalties vary, but possession intended for personal use will most likely result in a fine of up to $250 and up to 30 days in jail. Selling, on the other hand, is almost certainly a felony offence resulting in considerable fines and incarceration.
If you are arrested for marijuana-related crimes, it can have a significant impact on the rest of your life. That is a time when you will want an experienced attorney to make sure you come through the ordeal with your best future in mind. Even if the evidence looks bad, a skilled lawyer will know how to use the law to fight for your best outcome.
The future of marijuana for Ohio
Lawmakers have raised the question of whether Ohio should legalize marijuana for recreational use. An amendment to the Ohio constitution was recently proposed. Similar to California and Coloradoâs laws, the amendment would allow people 21 and older to possess, use, transport and even sell marijuana. Attorney General Mike DeWine rejected this proposal.
The future of recreational marijuana continues to be unclear. For the time being though, it will remain illegal in Ohio. If you’re charged with possession of marijuana, make sure to protect yourself.