Ohioans have officially made the joint decision to turn over a new leaf.
The Nov. 7 general election marked the passing of state Issue 2, the Marijuana Legalization Initiative. Issue 2 passed with 56.97% of statewide voter support. In Athens County, enthusiasm for the issue soared even higher with over 70% of voters casting a “yes” ballot.
Don Wirtshafter, founder of the Cannabis Museum, said citizens will not likely see big changes post-Issue 2’s passing.
“Issue 2 will come on slowly in most respects, and people won't notice the changes very much,” Wirtshafter said. “The same dispensaries will be in business. Eventually, maybe a year from now, anybody will be able to walk in their doors.”
The law is set to take effect Dec. 7. Once recreational cannabis is legal, Ohioans are permitted to home-grow up to six marijuana plants and possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana. However, dispensaries will not be able to become licensed to sell recreational products until late 2024.
CEO of Harvest of Ohio, Ariane Kirkpatrick, oversees the operation of medical marijuana dispensaries in Columbus, Beaver Creek and Athens. Harvest of Ohio will become a recreational dispensary when permitted by the Ohio government.
As Kirkpatrick said, in the near future, marijuana will become more accessible as a medication and as a recreational drug.
Only a small percentage of the eligible Ohio population is registered for a medical marijuana card. Kirkpatrick attributes this fact to long-standing stigmatization of cannabis use and barriers in health care that prevent patients from receiving a medical marijuana card.
“That's going to change now,” Kirkpatrick said. “People will be able to get the product, and we're going to see a lot of growth.”
Kirkpatrick anticipates company accommodations once Harvest of Ohio is permitted to sell recreational marijuana in 2024 – from increased staffing and parking to an increase in products at storefronts.
Kirkpatrick noted growth in marijuana access means a more equitable system – something the Harvest of Ohio team aims to foster.
“Our mission is totally geared toward social equity and social justice, as we are intentionally impactful with underrepresented communities,” Kirkpatrick said.
Nick Marie, the owner of Buddy’s Bud Co, agrees with Kirkpatrick – access equals equity.
Marie said the passing of Issue 2 will destigmatize marijuana, a drug that has been the basis of discrimination and unjust prison sentences for decades.
“People aren't going to be prosecuted for having minimal amounts of pot,” Marie said. “It's going to benefit the judicial system and everybody's lives because their life shouldn't get ruined for having a dime bag.”
Currently, Buddy’s Bud Co. sells products in compliance with the 2018 Federal Farm Bill, making all of his THC products legal. Marie hopes to expand operations by obtaining a license to sell recreational marijuana by mid-2025, but the process will be costly and is not guaranteed.
As Issue 2 goes into effect, Wirtshafter, Kirkpatrick, Marie and other advocates can agree: the legalization of recreational marijuana is set to benefit Ohioans in more ways than one, from economic boom as a result of tax revenue to increased social justice and access to marijuana as a medication.
To celebrate the passing of Issue 2, Wirtshafter will host a legalization celebration at the Cannabis Museum Dec. 8 at 4:20 p.m.
“I think that we'll have a much better place to live here because of the good changes we made,” he said.
