OHIO: Senate Bill #261 Approved - Expands Medical Marijuana Program

Developing news, 5-years after passing Ohio's first medical marijuana program, Senate Bill (SB) 261 passes and now moves on to the Ohio House. Senate Bill 261 is sponsored by Sen. Steve Huffman, R-Tipp City, OH.

Ohio Senate Passes SB #261 - Expands Medical Marijuana Program Patients, Doctors, Licenses, Conditions and more

"We can end on a high note." Sen. Steve Huffman, R-Tipp City, OH.

OH: SB #261 Passes Senate - Expands Medical Marijuana Program in Many Ways

Senate Bill #161 would drastically alter Ohio's medical marijuana program for patients, doctors, administration, cultivation, licensing, and more.

Allow previously denied cultivators access to licensing
Allow cultivators to expand their facilities
Allow doctors to recommend marijuana for any medical condition they 'believe marijuana would help
Increase the number of Ohio dispensary licenses
At least one licensed retail dispensary per 1,000 registered patients up to the first 300,000 registered patients and then adding additional retail dispensaries on an as-needed basis
1,000 patients per dispensary
Allow dispensaries to advertise on social media without prior approval
Establish a division of marijuana within the commerce department
Remove oversight of medical marijuana from the Ohio Board of Pharmacy
Creation of the Division of Marijuana Control (DMC)
Still prohibits smoking
Still prohibits home cultivation by patients
Requires equity study to determine remedial measures