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Will Ohio Legalize? – Cannabis | Weed | Marijuana

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Will the State of Ohio legalize cannabis this November? Officials announced Wednesday that the legalization initiative will appear on the November 2023 ballot.

The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol (CTRMLA) submitted more than 220,000 signatures, short by 679. Officials gave them ten more days, and the activists found 6,500 more.

Ohio’s Secretary of State found that 4,405 of those signatures were valid. This means in November, residents can decide: will Ohio legalize cannabis?

Will Ohio Legalize?

Will Ohio Legalize?

“We are grateful to the thousands of Ohioans who helped us get to this point and are excited to bring our proposal to regulate marijuana like alcohol before Ohio voters this coming Election Day,” Tom Haren, a spokesperson for CTRMLA said.

The group’s 41-page proposal wants to see legal cultivation, manufacturing, testing, and sales to people over 21. They also advocate for growing at home, with a limit of six per person and 12 per household.

Like other states, Ohio will likely create a new regulatory bureaucracy to hand out licenses and dole out fines and penalties if the ballot measure passes.

So will Ohio legalize cannabis? While statewide ballot initiatives legalizing cannabis have been popular in the US, it’s rare in Ohio. The last time a citizen-initiated statute passed was in 2006 when Ohioans voted to outlaw indoor smoking.

Since Ohio’s beginning, there have only been four citizen-initiated statutes passed. So will Ohio legalize? Even if a majority of residents vote in favor, the Ohio General Assembly could amend or even rescind the statute.

This isn’t the first time Ohioans have been asked about legalization. In 2015, 63.4% of voters rejected a constitutional amendment that would have created a cannabis monopoly with only 10 (government-handpicked) growers for the entire state.

Ohioans voted against the cannabis bill and voted for an anti-monopoly amendment, which prevents something like that from happening again.

So what are the details this time? Will Ohio legalize cannabis if it doesn’t mean a government-protected cartel of 10 exclusive growers?

Ohio Legalization Details

Will Ohio Legalize?

Ohioans were right to reject the 2015 amendment. But what about the initiative for this November? The actual ballot measure may differ from CTRMLA’s wording. But we can still get a general idea of what to expect.

  • Age restriction: 21 and older
  • Legal possession of up to 2.5 ounces of flower
  • 15 grams of concentrates
  • Individuals can grow up to six plants for personal use.
  • A maximum of 12 plants per household
  • 10 percent sales tax on cannabis
  • A new bureaucracy: a “Division of Cannabis Control” established under the state Department of Commerce
  • The new bureaucracy will have the authority to “license, regulate, investigate, and penalize adult use cannabis operators, adult use testing laboratories, and individuals required to be licensed.”
  • Medical cannabis businesses can easily switch over to recreational markets.
  • The new cannabis bureaucracy will issue licences in “preference to applications who are participants under the cannabis social equity and jobs program.”
  • Individual municipalities can opt-out from having cannabis companies in their jurisdiction (but cannot ban medical cannabis firms)
  • Employers are still able to keep their anti-cannabis policies.
  • Regulators would be required to provide “cannabis addiction services,” which involves broadcasting propaganda about cannabis and burdening individuals with the “addiction and recovery” mentality that their brain is broken or “diseased.”
  • “Study and fund” criminal justice reform that includes cannabis expungements

Will Ohio Legalize? Pros and Cons

Will Ohio legalize cannabis? While not perfect, the November initiative is far better than the monopoly amendment from 2015.

Still, the November ballot leaves much to be desired.

As we’ve covered before, markets are self-regulating. We have a centuries-old Anglo-American legal tradition to draw from if or when “market failure” occurs.

A legal cannabis industry (or any industry, for that matter) doesn’t need government bureaucracies handing out licenses and issuing rules based on their perspectives of “best practice.”

A government that bans your right to grow a medicinal plant unless you have the correct “papers” is oppressive. It may be petty tyranny compared to other areas of the world, and certainly when compared to our history, but it’s tyrannical nevertheless.

But the cons of Ohio’s November ballot go beyond mere licensing and regulation. Will Ohio legalize cannabis this November? If not, it may be because, like in 2015, Ohioans are unhappy with the details.

CTRMLA’s November Ballot

Will Ohio Legalize?

Critics have pointed out that the CTRMLA’s initiative text lacks concrete information on cannabis expungements. Instead of specific language indicating clear expungements for those with cannabis on their records, they dance around the issue by suggesting criminal justice reform.

As well, employers can maintain their anti-cannabis policies. While we’re all for private businesses doing what they want, if cannabis is legal in your state, it’s annoying to be subject to drug tests for things you do outside of work in your free time.

While prioritizing certain applicants based on gender or race (as opposed to merit) is becoming increasingly common (and accepted) in America, the CTRMLA’s initiative doesn’t address the issue this way.

Instead, they want the new bureaucracy to prioritize applicants based on “social equity,” but only through the jobs program. In other words: you may have to go through Maoist struggle sessions before getting your commercial cannabis licence.

Their demand that regulators “enter into agreement” with addiction programs may be to win over the more conservative-thinking Ohioans. 

But ultimately, framing habitual behavior as “disorders,” or as the consequences of exterior forces, undermine the individual’s ability to evaluate their substance use rationally.

Of course, the organization’s name, the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, tells us everything we need to know.

Ohio should not regulate cannabis like alcohol. Alcohol is a poison. Too much of it, and you die. Too much over a long period, and you die from cessation.

Cannabis is a medicinal herb. There is no lethal overdose. It needs as much regulation as your locally-grown tomato.

But, if your options are complete prohibition or a lesser version of it envisioned by CTRMLA, then the latter is often (but not always) the better option.

So will Ohio legalize cannabis? We’ll find out this November.





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Science Says Cannabis Can Be Making Us Healthier

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As it it becomes available to more people, there is a positive health change going on according to data.

Cannabis is becoming more mainstream and and the side effects are doing even better than expected.  It seems the availability of legal marijuana is helping with the health of the general population. Studies in California, Canada and the now New Zealand have shown the upside of legalization. While cannabis has been used for health benefits for millions of years, reduction in more harmful intoxication products is another important wellness trend.

RELATED: Can CBD Oils Help With Anxiety & Depression

Alcohol consumption is associated with significant health risks, including liver damage, cardiovascular issues, and certain cancers. In contrast, marijuana has not been linked to the same level of severe physical health consequences. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that over 36,000 annual U.S. deaths are attributed to chronic alcohol use, while there is no comparable category for marijuana-related deaths. Alcohol is also much more addictive than marijuana, causing long term physical and mental issues.

A study from New Zealand has found some interesting trends regarding the relationship between marijuana legalization and the consumption of alcohol and opioids.

heart cannabis
Photo by megaflopp/Getty Images

Following the legalization of marijuana in New Zealand, researchers observed a notable decline in alcohol consumption:

This suggests for adults, marijuana may be serving as a substitute for alcohol in some cases, particularly when it comes to heavy drinking episodes.

The relationship between marijuana legalization and opioid use appears more complex:

  • There was no clear evidence of marijuana legalization directly reducing opioid use or abuse.
  • However, some research indicates that people who use cannabis are more likely to initiate opioid use, with an odds ratio of 2.76 compared to non-cannabis users.
  • The likelihood of transitioning from opioid use to opioid use disorders among cannabis users was found to be 2.52 times higher than non-cannabis users.

The study also revealed some additional findings regarding substance use patterns:

  • Marijuana use increased by 16% among adults aged 21 and older following legalization.
  • There was a 5-6% increase in marijuana use initiation among adolescents and young adults aged 12-20. This would be go with the greater North American trend of California sober and Gen Z drifting away from alcohol and more into marijuana.
  • No significant changes were observed in the use of hard drugs like cocaine or heroin in any age group.

RELATED: Marijuana Use And Guy’s Member

These findings suggest while marijuana legalization may lead to decreased alcohol consumption among adults, it does not necessarily translate to reduced use of other substances, particularly opioids. The relationship between cannabis use and other substance use behaviors is complex and multifaceted. Time and more research should yield more benefits.



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Try These Delicious Autumn Cream Drinks

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Want something delicious with an “oomph” – these yummy creamy concoctions will make your mouth happy!

Fall is a time of coziness, cuffing and nights in front of the fire. Want better way to accent it with a nice tasty cocktail? Try these delicious autumn cream drinks and enjoy the pre-holiday season. Bailey’s was the commercial first cream liquor and made available to the public in 1971. But Irish monks have blended whiskey with fresh dairy cream since the 14th century.  These new and classic connections will bring a smile on crisp nights.

RELATED: Beer Sales Flatten Thanks To Marijuana

Important note, using cream instead of milk in alcoholic cocktails can significantly enhance the drink’s texture, flavor, and overall experience. Cream provides a richer and smoother texture compared to milk. The higher fat content in cream (typically around 36% or more) creates a luxurious mouthfeel that can elevate the drinking experience.

White Russian

The White Russian’s development took about 30 years. The first mention of the drink is in a newspaper was in 1965 in the Oakland Tribune. The 1961 edition of the Diner’s Club Drink Book included a recipe for a Black Russian, with a note suggesting adding cream to make a White Russian. The White Russian’s popularity increased after the 1998 movie The Big Lebowski, where the main character, Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski, drinks it throughout the film.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces vodka
  • 1 ounce Kahlúa
  • 1 ounce heavy cream

Create

  1. Add the vodka and Kahlúa to a rocks glass filled with ice
  2. Top with the heavy cream and stir
White Russian cocktail

Churro Cocktails

A churro is a fried dough pastry originated in Spain and Portugal. They are a fast-growing dessert and breakfast item on menus, and are a popular treat at theme parks and sporting events in Europe and North and South America.  Somrus, who makes cream liquors, made a cocktail from the flavor.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 parts Somrus Coffee
  • 1/2 part cinnamon whiskey

Create

  1. In an ice-filled shaker, add ingredients and shake
  2. Strain and pour

Brandy Alexander

This is was a classic “go to drink” for X. It was rumored to have been created at the Paris Ritz in 1922. Or it could have been made in 1915 by celebrate pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander during a World Series. It was considered a posh way to end the evening, especially after other cocktails.It’s creamy and boozy or a delicious replacement for dessert for those who like to drink their sweets. In the 2000s, it has moved to the back of the line, but is still a great way to cap off a night drinking.

  • 1 1/2 ounces cognac
  • 1 ounce dark creme de cacao
  • 1 ounce cream
  • Grated nutmeg for garnish

Create

  1. Add cognac, dark creme de cacao and cream into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled
  2. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass or a coupe glass
  3. Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg

RELATED: Rainy Weather Cocktails

Mango Fizz

For those who are holding on to every last bit of summer, this mango cocktail can add a a little sunshine. The fruit is considered the world’s most popular fruit with over 20 million tons consumed each year. Mangoes are a symbol of friendship and love, which can add to special evening.

Ingredients

  • 2 parts Somrus Mango
  • 1 part citrus vodka
  • ½ part simple syrup
  • Club soda

Create

  1. Combine Mango liqueur, vodka and simple syrup in an ice-filled shaker
  2. Shake vigorously
  3. Strain into ice-filled glass
  4. Top with club soda

 



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Is An Old Fashioned Or A Gummy Healthier

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Cocktails, beers, vapes, and gummies are all staples of social gathers – but is the cocktails or the vape better?

Alcohol has long consistent hold on society. Having been part of India, the Middle East and more, it has played a part in medicine, religion, intimacy and recreation for thousands of year. Yet alcohol has become the modern accepted intoxicant.  But is an old fashioned or a gummy healthier in today’s world?  Moderation is the key for both, but science comes down clearly on one side.

Cannabis and alcohol are two of the most widely used recreational substances, but their health impacts differ significantly. While neither is without risks, research suggests that cannabis may be the healthier option overall when used responsibly.

Alcohol consumption carries substantial health risks, especially with heavy or long-term use. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that excessive alcohol use leads to approximately 88,000 deaths annually in the United States. Alcohol is linked to liver disease, cardiovascular problems, and increased cancer risk. It can also exacerbate mental health issues and contribute to accidents and violence
Photo by Hans via Pixabay

Cannabis, on the other hand, has a lower risk profile. There have been no reported deaths from marijuana overdose, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. While smoking cannabis can have negative effects on lung health, alternative consumption methods like gummies, tinctures and oils avoid this risk. Cannabis is also less addictive than alcohol, with about 9% of users becoming dependent compared to 23% for alcohol.

Both substances impair cognitive function and motor skills in the short term. However, alcohol tends to have more severe immediate effects, including the risk of alcohol poisoning. Cannabis typically does not cause the intense hangover effects associated with alcohol use.

Moderate alcohol consumption may have some cardiovascular benefits, according to some studies. However, cannabis has shown promise in pain management and as a potential alternative to more dangerous opioid medications. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that researchers continue to explore.

While both substances carry risks, the available evidence suggests that cannabis is likely the healthier choice when compared to alcohol. It has a lower risk of overdose, less severe long-term health consequences, and potentially more medical applications. However, it’s crucial to note that the healthiest option is always moderation or abstinence from both substances.



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