COLUMBUS – A bill that would legalize medical marijuana in Ohio might be introduced in the House as early as this summer, state representatives say.
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The Ohio House medical marijuana task force will hold its last hearing Thursday, meaning legislators and interested parties will start weighing the remarks made over the course of seven hearings to formulate a plan of action.
“It’s been a very diverse group of witnesses from proponents and patients,” said Rep. Stephen Huffman (R-Tipp City), who serves on the task force. “And then there’s physicians and business leaders from both sides of the aisle.”
The group is led by Rep. Kirk Schuring (R-Canton). The panel includes 14 other members, including two state representatives, medical officials and two individuals who were involved in last year’s state ballot issue to legalize marijuana for medicinal and casual use, which was defeated by a large margin.
The group has been meeting since the start of this year.
Huffman said he wouldn’t be surprised to see legislation on the table by July. And with multiple ballot initiatives being introduced in the state, he said it’s time for the legislature to take a “serious look at the pros and cons” of legalizing marijuana for medical purposes.