Ohio Marijuana Program Set for Changes Under Income House Speaker Matt Huffman

Ohio legalized recreational cannabis more than a year ago, and sales have been going on for four months. However, the state’s marijuana program may undergo changes next year, as outgoing Senate President Matt Huffman R-Lima prepares to likely take on the role of House Speaker.

Huffman recently mentioned that many lawmakers feel there are some key issues with the current marijuana program. Last December, Huffman and 28 other senators voted for a bill that would improve the program by limiting the strength of cannabis products, raising the sales tax on them, and changing how the tax revenue is distributed.

Although the bill has not moved forward, Huffman believes its ideas could still play a role in future changes to the program.

One major change Huffman proposes is reducing the number of cannabis plants people can grow at home. Currently, households with two or more adults can grow up to 12 plants. The Senate bill would cut this number in half. Huffman argued that growing that many plants is unnecessary unless the person intends to sell the marijuana.

He also thinks marijuana and hemp laws should be handled together in one bill, rather than separately, which had been an issue for House lawmakers earlier this year.

Currently, there is a bill being discussed that would ban sales of delta-8 THC and other hemp-derived products, with penalties for breaking this rule. While the cannabis industry generally supports stricter regulations on unregulated hemp products, it doesn’t want similar restrictions on the already regulated marijuana market.

Huffman has served eight years in both the House and Senate and is now term-limited in the Senate. He recently won a seat in the House and is expected to become House Speaker in January 2025. Sen. Rob McColley R-Napoleon, who will replace Huffman as Senate President, also supported the 2023 overhaul.