Ohio lawmakers don't know first thing about marijuana. GOP plans will fuel black market

Ohio lawmakers may help grow the marijuana black market

The Ohio legislature is considering changes to the recently passed cannabis ballot initiative, aiming to align with voter intentions and enhance public safety.

While I support these goals, certain proposed modifications will jeopardize public safety by fostering a marijuana black market. Legislators do not understand the intricacies of Ohio's cannabis markets and how the legal marijuana market coexists with the grey and black markets.

Factors contributing to potential black market growth include uncompetitive prices due to high taxes and regulations, an excessive 12-plant limit for home cultivation, and proposed potency limits that will drive consumers towards unregulated products.

The pricing disparity, particularly for non-smokable cannabis products like vapes and edibles, leads consumers to the more affordable grey and black markets.

The future of weed: Are buzz-killers planning to change Ohio’s marijuana law.

The 12-plant home cultivation limit is excessive for personal use even for the heaviest users.

Potency limits seem like a good idea, but they will do nothing to actually cap potency. Potency caps on vape and concentrate products is particularly problematic because it is the fastest growing segment of the market and the grey and black markets are both significantly less expensive and do not have any potency caps. Potency caps will only ensure consumers seeking these products are relegated to the grey and black markets.

It is my hope that our legislature balances respecting the will of the voters that passed issue 2 with the safety of Ohioans.

Effective cannabis policies should focus on diminishing the black market rather than inadvertently promoting its growth.

Kelly Kammann, Powell

Lawmakers should follow DeWine's lead, listen to parents, kids

Thank you, Gov. Mike DeWine, for listening to the parents of transgender children. I hope members of the House and Senate listen to DeWine and what he learned from the parents and don't vote to override his veto.

Jean Hoitsma, Columbus

Putting tobacco in kids' hands

I am extremely concerned and disheartened by the recent vote by the Ohio House, which if pushed through, would make it easier for tobacco products to land in the hands of Ohio’s youth and would set back public health efforts against tobacco by decades.

Last week, the Ohio House voted to override the governor’s veto of a bill that would prevent local communities from enacting policies to protect the health and well-being of their citizens.

What do you think? How to submit a letter to the editor for The Columbus Dispatch

In January, should the Senate concur on the vote, this would prevent local communities from taking any future action to protect their kids and dissolve many critical local policies currently in place, such as laws that ban smoking in public places, including playgrounds and sporting events, and local ordinances requiring stores selling tobacco products be licensed.

More: Columbus ban on flavored tobacco begins Jan. 1 as state lawmakers aim to snuff it out

Tobacco use continues to climb among today’s youth.

One of our best tools for preventing the negative health consequences of these harmful products is policies that limit youth access. As the president of the Central Ohio American Heart Association, we urge Ohioans to reach out to their state senator to ask that that they prioritize the health of our communities and oppose moving forward with the override effort.

Dr. Laura Gravelin, American Heart Association, Central Ohio Board 

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Marijuana in Ohio. Gutting weed law will help dangerous black market