House Committee Moves Medical Marijuana Sub Bill

The House Select Committee on Medical Marijuana accepted a substitute version of House Bill 523 on Wednesday and unanimously reported the bill on Thursday.  This sets up a House floor vote for next Tuesday, potentially leaving the Senate three weeks to refine and pass the bill prior to the scheduled break for campaign activity.  The bill competes with potential fall ballot amendments to gain some form of marijuana legalization in Ohio.

The updated proposal added more details on how the proposed Medical Marijuana Control Commission would regulate the drug.  Among the most contentious issues, the bill would bar patients from smoking the drug but would allow vaporization.  The bill also prevents patients from growing their own product, but allows for use of oils, tinctures, plant material, edibles, and patches.

Two additional documents were released: Sub HB 523 Outline and HB 523 Comparison Document.  We’ll continue to apprise members as employer-impact analyses are developed.