Ohio Senate Republicans propose banning home grown marijuana and other changes to legal marijuana

MicroWave@lemmy.world to News@lemmy.world – 409 points –
Ohio Senate Republicans propose banning home grown marijuana and other changes to legal marijuana
pbs.org

Banning marijuana growing at home, increasing the substance’s tax rate and altering how those taxes get distributed are among vast changes Ohio Senate Republicans proposed Monday to a marijuana legalization measure approved by voters last month.

The changes emerged suddenly in committee just days before the new law is set to take effect, though their fate in the full Senate and the GOP-led House is still unclear.

The ballot measure, dubbed Issue 2, passed on the Nov. 7 election with 57 percent of the vote and it set to become law this Thursday, making Ohio the 24th state to legalize marijuana for adult recreational use. But as a citizen-initiated statute, the Legislature is free to make tweaks on it, of which they’re attempting plenty.

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Politicians really hate democracy....

Even in States where they get ballot initiatives, the politicians are always wanting to change the shit voters initiate and approve

And they have the public so disenfranchised that the public'll just go "fucking politicians" and move on with their lives instead of grabbing the torch and pitchforks and showing these assholes what accountability for politicians used to look like in the old days. Perhaps show them why we don't play by those rules anymore and why they shouldn't inspire the public to continue playing by those old rules.

Note: I am euphemistically edging towards tar and feathering more so than anything else. Anything nonlethal but severe in nature and consequence, that sort of thing.

Note: I am euphemistically edging towards tar and feathering more so than anything else. Anything nonlethal but severe in nature and consequence, that sort of thing

FYI, having boiling tar painted on someone's body resulted in death the vast majority of the time, either immediately or days/weeks later after excruiting pain.

It's just on TV it's portrayed as a funny thing that happens to scoundrels who are completely fine even immediately after it happened.

Ahhhh sheesh you definitely got me there.... In that case I'd like to revise my stance to be a bit safer and reduce it to just gluing the feathers to them using Elmer's or something safer than skin peeling tar :/

Something scary and mob actiony but that doesn't result in inevitable death.

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Long ago, we decided that gathering to issue a formal redress of our grievances was an acceptable alternative to simply breaking down our ruler's front doors and beating them to death in front of their families. These Republicans really want to go back to those days.

This needs putting on billboards, I'm fed up of bringing this to people's attention. With a slight wording tweak, it's applicable to a worldwide audience too.

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Which politicians? Don't use a vague term and "both sides" this.

Well, America elected FDR about 80 years ago mostly because he was going to do universal healthcare...

Politicians from both parties told him they needed another couple years to crunch the numbers. The compromise was Social Security, but they added the income cap and told FDR his next term they'd expand it

BTW: that cap is why Social Security is habitually underfunded.

In FDRs second term, they told him the same thing. Then changed the rules so he couldn't get a third.

And today, 80+ years later, the president of America (who is a Democrat) and all the people in leadership positions for Dems are still saying it's too soon and we need to wait a few more years.

If you're tired of people criticizing politicians from their own party, how about you go to the party where its tradition to never do that?

Because if neither of the only two options are willing to do that, we're all fucked.

So I'm going to keep pointing out how "not a Republican" isn't what we have to fucking settle for. Even if that is true in the 2024 presidential election.

What does any of that have to do with Republicans trying to subvert the ballot initiatives in Ohio? Which is what this post is about.

My issue with what you are doing is that your comment here, and most of your other political themed comments elsewhere, are always taking aim at the democrats. Yes, there is a lot to be said about the current democratic party, what they haven't done and perhaps more importantly what they have done, but in my albeit really quick scroll through your comments I don't think I saw you actually talk about how Republicans are fucking shit up, only how democrats are failing.

What democrats did 80 years ago on the federal level is completely irrelevant to what Republicans are doing right now on the state level in Ohio.

What democrats did 80 years ago on the federal level is completely irrelevant to what Republicans are doing right now on the state level in Ohio.

That would make sense if they just did it once 80 years ago and haven't spent Joe Bidens (almost) entire life continuously doing it...

My issue with what you are doing is that your comment here, and most of your other political themed comments elsewhere, are always taking aim at the democrats

Because if Dems become anymore like Republicans we have no chance left.

Like, if two houses catch fire and ones already burnt to the ground, are you going to demand firefighters put the same effort into both? Or are you going to realize the priority is the one that can still be saved?

You're being either disingenuous or simply repeating talking points.

FDR and many other Democratic presidents have campaigned on and tried to create a robust universal healthcare plan. Congressional Republicans prevented it. Every time.

In FDRs second term, they told him the same thing. Then changed the rules so he couldn’t get a third.

If you're talking about the 22nd Amendment, limiting presidents to two terms in office, that happened after FDR was elected four times, and died in office midway through his fourth term. And it's yet another way to put a giant thumb on the scale in order to give regressionist shitheels more power than they should fairly command in US politics. (See also: Electoral College, Three-Fifths Compromise, the filibuster, gerrymandering.) Without that scale-tipping, US politics would be way more left now than it is.

You should be more informed on history before citing it to support your preconceived ideas.

FDR and many other Democratic presidents have campaigned on and tried to create a robust universal healthcare plan. Congressional Republicans prevented it. Every time.

If only Dems hadn't had a single period where they had majorities of the House, Senate, and a dem.president sometimes in the last 80 years....

What's that? It happens pretty regularly but we never got universal healthcare? And it was even the situation during FDRs time in office?

Man, you'd be making a good point if any of what you're saying was true, too bad it's not tho

FDR tried to implement mandatory medical insurance for the needy, funded by a payroll tax. Not "universal healthcare." (I was incorrect on that above, because I was taking you on your word.) Truman wanted the same thing, but for everyone; this was decried as "socialist" (because we hate the Commies). Private insurance, doctors, hospitals all lobbied hard against it, as I'm sure they still do.

https://pnhp.org/a-brief-history-universal-health-care-efforts-in-the-us/

There's also a nice chart here which shows who controlled the Presidency and each house of Congress since 1901. Under FDR, Democratic control handled the Great Depression and WWII. JFK dealt with the Cuban Missile Crisis and Johnson did civil rights and Medicare/Medicaid. Obama did the Affordable Care Act.

Since you're hyper-focused on universal healthcare, can you name any Republican expansion of access to healthcare in the US? Ever?

Since you’re hyper-focused on universal healthcare,

I mean, did you need examples of Dems against legal cannabis while Joe Biden is in office?

Did you want a giant list of everything voters want that "moderate" Dems oppose?

Oh look! The goalposts have moved!

Can you name any Republican expansion of access to healthcare in the US? Ever?

Wait, you complained about me being focused on healthcare, but you still want to talk about it?

Well. "Obamacare" ended up being a more conservative version of Mitt Romeny's plan.

But if we're only giving credit for what's done (and I agree with that) then suddenly all the things that make neoliberals better than Republicans disappears.

I mean, the only recent expansion of healthcare by either party was when Dems passed the more conservative version of Romney's plan

You're making my point, the letter by someone's name doesn't mean much when majorities of politicians from both parties oppose progresss

There's just some with a D by their name that try, but progressives are still a minority in their own party unfortunately

Edit:

Actually with a profile blurb like that, I don't think any exchange will ever be productive...

I'm just going to use the block button, feel free to keep responding, I'll never see it.

Just don't have time for sovereign citizens who openly call for execution of politicians, even if they're terrible politicians...

I think you're doing that thing where people believe the right position is always halfway between D and R

Do you even know what neoliberals are?

You've made it clear that you have no idea what you're talking about.

Actually with a profile blurb like that, I don’t think any exchange will ever be productive…

I'm sure you're referring to #ExecuteTrump. Which is a reference to his own penchant for calling for the execution of his political enemies, under the cover of calling it "political speech." If he can do it, so can I.

Huh, I’ve got a weird sense of déjà vu

Yeah, lots of "moderate" Dems get really shitty when people point out that voters can want more than a D by someone's name.

That's the type of attitude that brought us the modern Republican party lead by trump. Republicans don't care how bad he is, just about the letter by his name.

You're wrong.

Republicans love how bad Trump is, because it means owning the libs.

owning the libs.

Whatever the fuck that actually means.

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Republicans really hate democracy…

Even in States where they get ballot initiatives, the Republicans are always wanting to change the shit voters initiate and approve

Huh, I’ve got a weird sense of déjà vu

Doubt they're the same person, I think he copied what the other guy wrote and changed it from politician to republican

What you said though made me laugh my ass off when I saw it

Yeah you’re probably right. In fact I didn’t even notice the difference until after I made the comments lol.

And glad to brighten someone’s day! Hope you have a good rest of your day

Aww, thank you very much, you seem like an awesome person. I hope you have a wonderful day as well!

Republicans claim to be pro state's rights and pro small government. Weird how their actions always seem to be contrary to this philosophy...

After living to midlife, I conclude the more rightwing you are, the more dishonest you are.

Also: "You'll become more conservative as you age!"

Biggest fucking lie I've ever heard. I'm glad I remain functionally sane to this day.

I’ve become more liberal as I age. I see, hear, and understand how fragile our personal economic situations are and cannot believe that people want to cut what little shitty safety net we have back even further. One serious illness, one bad car wreck, hell…just getting a bad bout of covid, any of that that disables you or gets you sued into oblivion (your fault wreck) and you’re done. May never recover. Plus, I can’t be bothered to want to tell people who they can and can’t be, want to be called, want to smoke pot, whatever. Just don’t hurt other people. That’s all.

I fucking called it. Seriously, I have a comment on here from the day after the vote complaining about how the bill was still open to being edited after we voted on it and I called the they would remove the home growing part.

Capitalism baby. Can't have you producing your own stuff when the corporations can sell it to you at 10x the price.

That was absolutely what happened in California. Michigan got it right, I wish the pro-legalization groups would leverage the rivalry between OSU and Michigan to get the conservatives who are obsessed with it to get their heads out of their asses.

Anyone over the age of 21 in California can grow 6 plants, and with a medical rec, you can grow up to 24.

Getting a growers license allows for larger farms, and is pretty cheap and easy to get, provided you own the property. I will admit that getting a distribution license is enough of a hassle that I don't bother. I just sell to licenced distributors. They do the lab work, and even trim my buds for me. I started with 6 plants, and now have 50.

The thing is, we tried to pass legization as a constitutional amendment several times in past years and it always failed.

It was tried once with Issue 3 and it was a terrible proposal that would have restricted the marijuana market to specific investors and enshrined that language in the constitution so it would only be changeable with another amendment.

I don't disagree with you regarding issue 3. All I'm suggesting, is that the citizen ballot initiative was the only way it was going to pass. But you should always expect Ohio Republicans to be bastards.

Yeah, fuck the replikkkans and their shady bullshit. If everyone voted there wouldn't be a single one of them in a position of power.

ohio is scary as fuck outside of the cities its not okay out there most homicidal state

Most? No. 7th in total 21st in per population. Now if we talk about gerrymandering, I question if there's a more gerrymandered state.

If Republicans could draw districts in the 4th dimension, they would have in Ohio

It's not just republicans.

It's illegal to grow your own weed in Illinois recreationally.

I can't really abide letting companies(which is people but with money and capital) grow a plant I'm not allowed to grow. That just feels like flexing control of prices and picking who gets it.

The tax bit is a totally fair concern, and is the proper avenue of "who gets it?" I should think the taxes be directly relevant to the subject, so research funding and addiction therapy seems appropriate. I would like to see what people are doing explicitly for fun fund things that people in need should be getting. That'd be better funding for homeless programs, grocery subsidizing(broad category, no specific industry), and healthcare.

I for one would buy up lots of weed to know I'm feeling good for contributing to those things to get what I like.

I gotta say, I've never heard of flower with over 50% THC or an extract that wasn't specifically trying to be 100%. It's like they actually don't know what they're talking about.

If nothing is sold, what is there to tax?

Property is a huge one that should be taxed more. If you own property, you're preventing other people from utilizing it, so it should be taxed in proportion to its value yearly. If you don't utilize it maximally, the cost of taxes will outweigh its ownership and you'll be pushed to sell it to someone who will utilize it better (or you just eat the cost). It's drive down hoarding of houses and leaving apartments unfilled, which would drive down the cost as landlords attempt to fill them maximally.

Im not sure high base property tax rates are the best solution to corporate ownership of single family homes.

A progressive tax based on number of residential properties owned makes more sense to me.

100% tax on home 1 125% on home 2 150% on home 3 200% on home 4 250% on home 5

And if they still try to arbitrage the market, double the tax for unoccupied homes.

just make it impossible to profit after a point.

Land value tax is progressive already. It's also very efficient with no real way to create loopholes. A progressive tax based on number of owned properties would just create shell companies and putting properties under another name. I don't disagree with increasing tax on unoccupied residences, but I don't think that is appropriate with a LVT, as it just adds complication. You're taxed based on value, which is correlated to the value others think they could extract from the same land. Empty property could be utilized, so the value doesn't care if it's empty and will be taxed appropriately regardless.

A LVT also works for farmland and other land to ensure maximum utility. Also, assuming land shouldn't belong to anyone (which why should it. They didn't create it?) it appropriately returns value to the public for occupied land.

I disagree, there deffo should be some licensing on who exactly is able to produce mind altering substances just to guarantee the the brew is clean.

Guess you're against homebrew beer, wine, and meade too?

While you're at at, you should also propose bans on privately grown tobacco and coffee too.

These are all mind altering substances.

Sugar better be regulated as well. That's most people's first mind altering substance.

You're saying all that as if it's ridiculous to control who's allowed to grow that shit even just for themselves

Yes, those are all mind altering substances, so you shouldn't be able to just grow it without being certified to be following the guidelines, if only because even if I can trust you personally to be the town buzzkill who never shares their stash, I can't count on the hempton family who swear that the greenhouse they just built that grows enough for twenty is just to help with dad's knee.

Shouldn't be allowed to sell it? Sure. Not allowed to grow? You're delusional if you think that's gonna work. It's just going to cause the people who can afford to, to move to states that allow you to grow, and those that can't just get to have their lives destroyed for doing something that is perfectly legal in other states.

Prohibition Never Works.

Only if they're selling it.

Nah, homebrew chemistry can be some dangerous shit even without the intent to get high off it.

Not everyone's that one Rick that just wants to chemically induce a batch of fresh brownies.

Anything is dangerous shit with enough of an idiot at the helm.

Drugs are more regulated than guns in the US for fuck's sake. That there should be enough.

I bet the mental gymnastics routine to justify that is straight tens.

more regulated than guns

Unless I imagined the record breaking 38 mass killings this year I'm gonna have to take that to mean you think they're barely regulated at all.

Gaah. Not allowing grow is the biggest bs in the illinois "legalization"

How can they enforce ot?

In Illinois, you can grow up to five plants for personal use if you have a medical card. However, medical cards in Illinois are only provided to people who suffer from a condition on a fairly limited list. Definitely not as easy to get a medical card here as it is in, say, California.

If you don't have a medical card, and you're caught with up to five plants, it's a "violation" (citation), with a maximum fine of $200 and no jail time. Over five plants is a felony, with increasingly higher jail and fines. Read between the lines here, and they're not going to be looking for people with up to five plants for personal use at all.

These penalties exist in order to prevent trafficking, which I think is a good thing. Legal weed in Illinois is not terribly expensive, and you can have confidence in the quality, that it's not adulterated, and that the money you spend on it isn't filtering down to criminal organizations.

why limit the 5 to medical cards which also require a yearly fee. My wife has a bunch of issues and could likely get a card but we don't know if marijuana would help but we would love to try to see if it would allow for less use of opoids and nausea medicine. Its not covered by insurance though and we already pay max out of pocket each year so the paywall is just to much.

Well, if you want to try, just go buy some. If your wife has an opioid prescription, you can get a medical card, but to my understanding, it just makes the price of the products lower, and lets you buy a larger quantity. There may be some products which are only available to medical card holders, but if there are, there aren't many.

Like I said, even without a medical card, up to five plants is a $200 fine. With the electricity and effort and equipment, it's probably going to cost you less for better quality if you just buy from a shop and let the professionals do the growing (unless you're one of those professionals, of course).

so I don't think you understand. We spend a lot on medical already and marijuana without a card is very expensive and we just don't break the law because we think we can. If the law just allowed grow then we would likely try it. Just fyi the amount of doctors who other folks who have no concept of our single income barely making it world who say, hey just buy this thing out of pocket. Drives me nuts. I understand that you don't necessarily understand my situation but we actually do in some case spend some additional out of pocket but it is very economically challenging for us. Case in point is insurance will not cover prp which we have found works but will cover another surgery. So its like a game of chicken. The surgery would cost the insurance waaaaayyy more than prp but its also does not always end well as we well know. Another case was they use to pay for this post surgery machine that automatically runs cold/hot cycles and preassure which is clinically proven to improve outcomes and they used to cover it. Know why they don't now. Medicare stopped and most insurances use medicare billing codes. So they stopped. Anwyay we do not have unlimited resources to pay for unlimited amounts of out of pocket with medical costs.

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Home grow is a really important check against taxes and prices that are too high.

In MA, you can legally give away up to an ounce, grow 6 plants per person and 12 per household. Prices at dispensaries are still too high in my opinion, and taxes are still to high, so I don't go to them. Plus, home growing is a fun hobby once you get it going right, doesn't take much to cover personal use for most people.

Don't underestimate how important home grow is to the overall legalization picture. Vote accordingly Ohioans and make sure to talk to plenty of media, answer polls, and notify your representative that this is an issue you will be getting out to vote for. Pay attention to elections for your representative in the state legislature.

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Freedom is where corporations have more rights than you.

I think these legislators need to be recalled for circumventing the will of their constituents.

I think even pot-smoking conservatives will still vote Republican. Conservatives reliably vote for conservatives against their own interests.

BUT THINK OF THE UNBORN BABIES

I am how else am I supposed to get my baby back ribs. Im banned from going near maternity wards after the incident!

Bunch of fucken hypocritical assholes. When other people eat baby back ribs its "A good BBQ" meanwhile when I do it its "A crime against humanity" and im a "Cannibalistic monster".

They almost let people get access to something that would bring them happiness, by doing nothing. But no, let’s be good republicans and fight to make others’ lives a bit worse instead of doing the small government thing and leave them alone.

The party of small government and personal responsibility ladies and gentlemen.