CLEVELAND — A new Ohio law taking effect Friday will change how cannabis can be used, transported, and sold — with some of the biggest impacts happening after customers leave the dispensary.
Advocates had tried to delay the law and put it before voters, but that effort fell short of the signatures needed to qualify for the ballot, Now, industry leaders say the changes under Senate Bill 56 can be difficult to follow.
“I’m the CEO of a cannabis company, and it’s confusing to me,” said Jared Maloof of Standard Wellness in Gibonsburg. “So for instance, you have to keep the marijuana in its original packaging, and you have to place it in your trunk.”
Additionally, bringing marijuana across state lines (even if purchased legally) is both federally illegal and now prohibited under Ohio law.
One of the most noticeable changes affects where cannabis can be used. Smoking, vaping, or consuming cannabis in public places is now prohibited, and could result in a misdemeanor.
The law also lowers THC limits for certain products and restricts the sale of intoxicating hemp-derived items, such as THC seltzers, to licensed dispensaries.
Some in the industry say the changes are meant to improve safety.
“This legislation did do a whole heck of a lot to make sure that consumers are safe in the state of Ohio,” said AJ Caraballo of Amplify Dispenseries.
Others, including cannabis advocates, say the restrictions could push some users toward illegal products.
“Practice with due diligence and, you know, with your own safety in mind,” said Tim Johnson of Cannabis Safety First.
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