The Cleveland City Council has recently proposed an ordinance to decriminalize marijuana possession. If passed by the Council, the ordinance will eliminate any monetary fine or jail time for possessing up to 200 grams of marijuana. Per the proposed ordinance, a misdemeanor marijuana conviction in the city of Cleveland will no longer be considered a
medical marijuana
Ohio Releases Dispensary Applications As the Federal Government Continues To Send Conflicting Signals on Legal Marijuana
The Ohio Board of Pharmacy has released model dispensary applications
Today the Ohio Board of Pharmacy released, through the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program Website, the application materials for Ohio dispensaries. The Board will accept applications electronically beginning on November 3 at 8:00am and ending on November 17 at 2:00pm.
Similar to what the Department…
NFL Approving of Marijuana?
Two recent events serve as continuing examples of how attitudes towards marijuana are changing in the U.S. The National Football League (“NFL”), which strictly enforces its drug policies, may be changing its mind on medical marijuana. The NFL Players Association (“NFLPA”) has already been working on its own study for the potential use of medical…
Massachusetts Supreme Court Allows Disability Discrimination Claim For Use of Medical Marijuana
In Cristina Barbuto v. Advantage Sales & Marketing LLC and Joanne Meredith Villaruz, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Case No. SJC-12226, the Massachusetts Supreme Court held on July 17, 2017, that an employee in Massachusetts can bring a claim of disability discrimination after being fired for using medical marijuana.
Medical marijuana was approved by Massachusetts…
Marijuana Law & Policy Webinar
If you are interested in additional details surrounding the legalization of medical marijuana in Ohio, join Crain’s Cleveland Business for a webinar on Tuesday, January 10 from Noon-1pm EST.
Ohio Edging Closer to Medical Marijuana Regulations
On December 15, 2016, the Board of Pharmacy issued draft regulations placing a limit of 40 dispensary licenses, and providing for rules on obtaining dispensary licenses, operating dispensaries and licensing of employees. The State Medical Board regulations provided steps physicians have to undertake in order to be able to recommend medical marijuana. The Department of…
The Ball Keeps Rolling
Marijuana ballot initiatives passed in seven out of nine states on November 8, 2016. California, Massachusetts, and Nevada, states where medical marijuana is already legal, passed ballot initiatives to legalize recreational marijuana. A similar initiative in Arizona failed. Maine’s effort to expand beyond medicinal to legalize recreational marijuana is still too close to call. Arkansas,…
No Funding For Medical Pot Prosecutions
Since 2014, Congress has maintained an appropriations rider prohibiting the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) from using funds in relation to 33 named states and territories “to prevent such States from implementing their own State laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana.” Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Pub. L.…
DEA May Soon Decide Whether to Downgrade Cannabis to a Schedule II Drug
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (“DEA”) may issue a decision as soon as this summer regarding the potential downgrading of cannabis to allow for its medical use.
In response to a letter from seven U.S. Senators in December, 2015, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency issued a 26-page response in April, 2016, that many believe indicates…
Medical Marijuana Could Finally Be Here in Ohio
House Bill 523 (or HB 523) is now through the General Assembly and on Governor Kasich’s desk for his signature. On May 10, 2016, the Ohio House of Representatives passed HB 523, a bill that would permit a patient, upon the recommendation of a physician, to use medical marijuana to treat a qualifying medical condition.…