Excerpt from the Columbus Dispatch
By Lee Hannah and Daniel Mallinson, Guest columnists
Even though President Joe Biden has taken the biggest steps on federal marijuana reform, it will take a long time for these changes to make their way down to the states. Federal rescheduling does not solve many problems still facing state medical and recreational marijuana programs.
Our new book with NYU Press "Green Rush: The Rise of Medical Marijuana in the United States" argues that the states are central to the story of American cannabis policy.
We also analyze the slow implementation of Ohio’s medical marijuana program. Ohio’s recreational marijuana experiment will be guided by lessons learned from its own medical marijuana experience and by the examples of other states.
Proponents and opponents of recreational policy have different goals for the program’s implementation.
The supermajority of Republican legislators largely opposed Issue 2 and floated several changes to the bill after its passage. Despite bills that would have reined in smoking, supply, home grow and other elements of the policy, the chambers have not been able to come to a consensus, meaning much of what voters supported in Issue 2 will go into effect.
Editor’s note: Lee Hannah is a professor of political science at Wright State University. Daniel Mallinson is an associate professor of public policy and administration at Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg.
