Drug Enforcement and Policy Center at The Ohio State University

When Ohio voters legalized adult-use marijuana in November 2023, they voted not only for the right to legally purchase and use marijuana, but also for how the resulting tax revenue would be spent. Despite this, Ohio lawmakers have continued efforts to modify this law, including proposals to change the provision directing 36% of the 10% marijuana tax to municipalities that host adult-use dispensaries. To assess the impact of these proposals, we asked Ohio municipalities that currently host a dispensary how they planned to use any expected marijuana tax revenue and how the elimination of such funds would impact their city. Our new report compiles the responses we received, highlighting potential effects on Ohio communities. Read what they had to say: https://bit.ly/4hHrGo4 #marijuanareform #ohiolaw #drugpolicy #cannabis #tax #research

When Ohio voters legalized adult-use marijuana in November 2023, they voted not only for the right to legally purchase and use marijuana, but also for how the resulting tax revenue would be spent. Despite this, Ohio lawmakers have continued efforts to modify this law, including proposals to change the provision directing 36% of the 10% marijuana tax to municipalities that host adult-use dispensaries. To assess the impact of these proposals, we asked Ohio municipalities that currently host a dispensary how they planned to use any expected marijuana tax revenue and how the elimination of such funds would impact their city. Our new report compiles the responses we received, highlighting potential effects on Ohio communities. Read what they had to say: https://bit.ly/4hHrGo4 #marijuanareform #ohiolaw #drugpolicy #cannabis #tax #research

Did you know DEPC Executive Director and The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law Professor Douglas Berman is coeditor of the Federal Sentencing Reporter? Learn more about the journal, now owned by Ohio State and published by Duke University Press, in this blog post. #federalsentencingreporter #federalsentencing #sentencing #publication

We recently surveyed law enforcement agencies across Ohio regarding their policing practices and how they may have changed following marijuana legalization. Here are some key takeaways: ??Jurisdictions with dispensaries reported no changes to patrol practices and that investigative procedures have largely remained the same. ??Methamphetamine and fentanyl were seen as serious issues, while marijuana was less concerning. ??The results were consistent with previous research from other states that showed that youth use and impaired driving were common concerns. ??Findings related to law enforcement training, recruitment, and retention showed that there was only moderate clarity on the new rules and regulations for marijuana. Find out more about what we learned in the full report: https://bit.ly/3XmH3ex #policing #marijuanalegalization #lawenforcement #research #publicsafety #drugpolicy #criminaljusticereform

Mark your calendars for April 8 and join us for a dynamic virtual discussion on the federal marijuana rescheduling process, moderated by Bridget Dooling. Register: https://bit.ly/4k7ISWk Panelists: Cat Packer, Drug Policy Alliance Matt Lawrence, Emory University School of Law Patricia J. Zettler, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

Thanks to Ohio Capital Journal for including our research in this piece highlighting recent efforts by the Ohio General Assembly to regulate the sale of intoxicating hemp products in Ohio. Dig deeper with these DEPC resources: ?? Considerations for regulating these products, including a primer on the most commonly used naturally occurring cannabinoids in hemp: https://bit.ly/4kHnSpF ?? Summary of the major provisions of Senate Bill 86: https://bit.ly/3DyD7jZ ?? Recording of our recent event on intoxicating hemp in Ohio: https://lnkd.in/gr8aFnUT #intoxicatinghemp #hemp #ohio #marijuanareform #cannabisreform #drugpolicy

Our new resource compares existing law to the revisions proposed by SB 56 and the recently introduced HB 160: https://bit.ly/3Fcn1Nq Learn more about how these bills would change current marijuana law in Ohio, including impacts to tax rates and revenue allocation, social equity provisions, criminal penalties, intoxicating hemp products, and more. #marijuanareform #ohiolaw #drugpolicy #cannabislegalization

If you missed DEPC's virtual event on the regulation of intoxicating hemp in Ohio this week, a recording is now available: https://lnkd.in/gr8aFnUT The webinar featured experts from the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, Reason Foundation, and OHCANN. Panelists discussed the national and Ohio landscape for intoxicating hemp regulation and addressed how to best balance the interests of Ohio’s hemp and marijuana industries with public health and safety concerns. #intoxicatinghemp #hemp #ohio #marijuanareform #cannabisreform #drugpolicy

Moritz College of Law Professors Patti Zettler and Micah Berman, alongside co-author Theodore Wagener, director of Ohio State’s Center for Tobacco Research, have published a groundbreaking article in The New England Journal of Medicine! Their research examines the FDA’s landmark proposal to limit nicotine levels in cigarettes and other combustible tobacco products to minimally or non-addictive levels. Anticipating pushback from the tobacco industry, the authors argue that the proposal is on strong legal footing and that recent Supreme Court decisions would not hinder the FDA’s authority to move forward. Beyond legal analysis, the paper underscores the tremendous public health benefits of this proposal—potentially saving millions of lives this century. The authors encourage researchers to submit further evidence demonstrating how reduced nicotine levels could make tobacco products less addictive. ?? Read more about this research https://bit.ly/41MWjCX. #PublicHealth #FDA #TobaccoPolicy #LegalResearch #MoritzLaw

Senate Bill 56, as originally introduced, and the Governor’s 2025-26 budget propose increasing Ohio’s marijuana tax rate and changing revenue allocation. Explore the recent report from DEPC at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law analyzing these proposals to see how they compare to other states: https://bit.ly/4h9o0eB Then, dive deeper with our comprehensive comparison of SB 56 to existing law. #marijuanareform #ohiolaw #SB56 #drugpolicy #marijuanataxes