Hicks-Hudson Condemns Marijuana Changes That Subvert Will of the People

 Today, state Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) released the following statement after the passage of Senate Bill 56, which overhauls the adult-use recreational marijuana laws that the majority of Ohioans voted to approve in 2023. 

“It amazes me when the proponents of Senate Bill 56 say that the citizens ‘don’t know what they voted for,’” said Hicks-Hudson. “It amazes me when facts are manipulated to reach a false conclusion. What was voted on by Ohio voters is again being ignored by the majority members. Regardless of whether you support or don’t support adult-use marijuana, this legislation flagrantly disregards the voice of the people. Majority members continue to trample on the will of voters, disrespecting their basic rights as citizens of Ohio.”

Senate Democrats offered several amendments that would have ensured the bill respected the will of the voters who overwhelmingly approved Issue 2. Some of those amendments would have: 

• Eliminated financial barriers to expungement
• Aligned public smoking rules for marijuana with public smoking rules for cigarettes 
• Increased the limit on home grow plants from 6 to 9 per household
• Restored the THC content and milligram serving/packaging limits to current law 
• Restored the dispensary license distribution to current law

Senate Bill 56 now heads to the Ohio House of Representatives for consideration.