A bipartisan marijuana legalization bill has been introduced in the House.

Reps. Jamie Callender (R-Concord) and Casey Weinstein (D-Akron) announced Monday that their legislation, HB168, would legalize the use of cannabis by adults age 21 and older.

The Ohio Adult Use Act would allow for the cultivation, purchase and possession of cannabis by Ohioans over the age of 21 and allows for the expungement of conviction records for previous cultivation and possession offenses.

The bill would implement a 10 percent sales tax on adult-use cannabis products. The tax revenue would be distributed in part to supporting K-12 education, communities that host dispensaries, combatting chemical dependence and illegal drug trafficking, and the state General Revenue Fund (GRF).

“It’s time for Ohio to act on this before we fall too much further behind our neighbors,” Weinstein said. “Adult use is good for our economy, good for our justice system, and the right thing to do. Ohioans are ready to legalize cannabis, and I am proud to offer this bipartisan bill to get it done.”

Under the bill, the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program would be extended to also regulate the non-medical cultivation, processing, sale and adult use of cannabis products. It would be renamed the Division of Marijuana Control to reflect its role in running both the medical marijuana and adult use programs and be housed within the Ohio Department of Commerce.

“Through the expansion of Ohio’s successful medical marijuana program to all Ohioans, we will not only be building upon best practices from around the country but utilizing the lessons learned here in Ohio,” Callender said. “With the nation increasingly heading towards the de-scheduling of cannabis products at the federal level, Ohio has an opportunity to get ahead of the curve in developing its cannabis industry.”

The bill has yet to be assigned to a committee for consideration.

As of this spring, 22 states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for adult use.

The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol is currently collecting signatures to place a marijuana legalization initiated statute on the November ballot. (See The Hannah Report, 5/4/23.)