State Sen. Bill DeMora represents Ohio’s 25th Senate District. It includes Grandview Heights, Marble Cliff, Minerva Park, Upper Arlington, Valleyview, Ohio State University and parts of Columbus as well as parts of Blendon, Clinton, Franklin, Norwich, Perry, Plain, Prairie and Sharon townships.
Two years ago, 57% of Ohioans—over two million people—voted “yes” on Issue 2, the “Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol” initiative, sending a clear and decisive message: They want sensible marijuana legalization with reasonable regulations, similar to how we regulate alcohol and tobacco.
Republicans in the General Assembly have since done everything in their power to overturn the will of Ohioans by passing Senate Bill 56.
As the ranking Democrat on the committee tasked with reconciling the House- and Senate-passed versions of SB 56, I voted against the final version of the bill.
It was one of the easiest votes I have ever cast, as it is a complete betrayal of what Ohioans demanded at the ballot box.
It passed out of the committee on a party-line vote in a shady, late-night process where I was not given a copy of the bill I needed to vote on until two minutes before the committee met at 11:30 p.m.
There was no time to deliberate, negotiate, or soften the blow for the millions of Ohioans who use marijuana. I was given the bill, and then I had to immediately vote no on it.
SB 56 tears down every key provision that Ohioans approved.
SB 56 makes it a crime to transport marijuana not purchased in Ohio into the state, meaning there will be state troopers on every border in Ohio to go after any car they deem suspicious, despite there being no clarification in the bill on how there could be probable cause to stop a car for containing marijuana.
The bill also increases the penalties for dispensary employees who accidentally sell to a minor. The first offense is a heavy fine, in line with penalties for selling alcohol to a minor, but the second offense is a felony.
Assault, domestic violence, and drunk driving are misdemeanors, but this? A future-destroying felony.
The bill even allows discrimination for unemployment benefits and organ donation based on recreational marijuana use. My colleagues are willing to let Ohioans die waiting for organs because they used a legal substance.
Issue 2 passed in 30 of the 33 state Senate districts. Nearly every legislator in our chamber represents constituents who voted “yes,” yet they gave them the middle finger anyway.
The arrogance of the majority is breathtaking. They think they know better than the two million Ohioans who voted for legalization, so they created a new nanny state system on a whim.
Unfortunately, SB 56 has now been signed into law by the governor. But Ohioans must speak out.
We cannot let this infringement of our liberty happen with no consequences, or the lesson the majority will learn is that they can be even more brazen next time.
State Sen. Bill DeMora represents Ohio’s 25th Senate District. It includes Grandview Heights, Marble Cliff, Minerva Park, Upper Arlington, Valleyview, Ohio State University and parts of Columbus as well as parts of Blendon, Clinton, Franklin, Norwich, Perry, Plain, Prairie and Sharon townships.