The Future of Pot in Ohio: Tax Hikes and Growing Restrictions

Speaker A
00:00:02.000 - 00:07:14.690
It's the Akron Podcast for January 31, 2025. Our website, akron podcast.com. hey, let's talk about pot, shall we?

Ohio lawmakers are proposing significant changes to the state's voter approved recreational marijuana law through Senate Bill 56, introduced by Senator Stephen Huffman. Remember that name. The bill would raise the excise tax on pot from 10 to 15% with all the revenue directed to the state's general fund.

It also includes several restrictions such as reducing the number of plants individuals can grow at home from 12 to 6. They also want to cap dispensaries at 350 locations and banning smoking and vaping outside private residences.

Additionally, the bill eliminates the social equity and jobs program, decreases the THC cap in products from 90 to 70%, which I don't smoke pot, but I think the whole. Isn't the whole point of pot thc. So like we need you to make the pot less good, I guess. Somebody fill me in on that.

And it requires marijuana to be stored in the car's trunk during transport. Senator President Rob McCauley and Huffman argue that these changes are necessary to account for societal costs.

Now what's interesting, this is an article from the Beacon Journal.

They don't say what those societal costs are and they said argue that again, these changes are necessary for societal costs and to maintain control over the industry. Which is interesting, cuz these are Republicans. And Republicans were like, no, we can't have marijuana.

And now they're all about, yeah, we need some control. Meaning we. Okay, let's go on here.

Now critics, including the Ohio Cannabis Coalition, warn that these revisions could destabilize a rapidly growing market which has already generated. You ready for this? $300 million in sales. That's a lot of tax. Look, 10% of that is 30 million in taxes. Yeah.

They argue that altering the law now creates uncertainty for businesses and consumers, especially if you're the 351st location. Hey, sorry. Yeah. Especially since Ohio's current cannabis program is considered one of the most successful in the nation. Yeah.

Hey, this is working great. Let's get the politicians involved, shall we?

The voter approved law was an initiated statute rather than a constitutional amendment giving lawmakers the power to make adjustments. Well, we've learned something there now, haven't we? However, some, like Senator Bill Demora, view the changes as dismissive of the public's decision.

Yeah, he's kind of like, hey, didn't the voters say they wanted this?

And now we're like, no, no, no, we know better because we wear ties and you know, Republican leaders who previously struggled with internal disagreements over marijuana regulations now appear committed to overhauling the law. Yeah, 300 million reasons, I'm thinking. Despite concerns about its potential impact on the industry.

So look, I, like I said, I don't smoke pot, but some of this is silly. I mean, I get it. There's a smoking ban on cigarettes. So I don't want to be at Luigi's and have somebody toke up.

And I'm like, yeah, but it just to me, yeah, Senator, I'm sorry, Senate Bill 56. So if you want to go out and tell your representative to leave that one alone. Links are out@akronpodcast.com so you can find your representative.

Hey, Joann Fabrics is still having a hard time. They filed for, you know, Chapter 11 bankruptcy for a second time and they may potentially lay off hundreds of employees.

There is a thing called the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification act, better known as warn. According to two WARN notices, they were received basically Monday by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

The company could lay off 475 employees at its distribution center in Hudson and their fulfillment center in West Jefferson. So, you know, everybody start making your own clothes quick. Something they say.

Employee separations are expected to begin March 31st in a 14 day period. Employment if Joanne fails to secure a buyer for the company. So bad news for those out there in Hudson.

My heart goes out to you if you're new to the show. I used to have an events calendar. Long story short, the company I used for that went out of business and I went and looked at like the Civic.

I looked at the Kent stage. I looked at mgm and what is the deal with COVID bands? Not so much cover tribute bands.

Like, hey, if I want to like listen to Fleetwood Mac, I'll just throw on Spotify rather than someone in a bad wig trying to sound like Stevie Nicks. I don't get that. But if you're looking for movies, the Dogman movie is out. Part dog, part man, all hero. Flight Risk with Mark Wahlberg.

That is one I might see. The funny thing about movies now, if, like you wait a half hour, it'll be on streaming.

One of them days is kind of the two girls craziness going on, trying to pay their bills. That looked funny. Mufasa and Moana are still in theaters along with Sonic 3. And it looks like maybe next week. Captain America is coming out.

Paddington will be coming out. Snow White. Notice that it's not. And the Seven Dwarves. Because they politically couldn't get past that.

That one I might see just because it's going to be so very bad. And Love Hurts, if you're a Jackie Chan fan, is on its way. I think my new favorite theater is Regal and Hudson.

It's got stadium seating with the seats that fold back. It's clean. They got a decent staff. I've tried a few, and that one I like. I started.

I have a Regal deal now where I pay him 20 bucks a month and I can watch as many movies as I want, which so far is working. But there are times when it dawns on you that most of these movies aren't very good and you're still paying 13 bucks for popcorn and a Coke.

So I wish. Well, it's also January in Akron. Not a lot of people wanting to go outside even though it is above freezing. Today I saw a corner of my yard.

I was like, all right. But we know we got another two months before it gets nice outside, so thanks so much for listening to the Akron Podcast.

If you know somebody who would like that. Yeah, tell a friend. Roll the out.