Source: Ohio Health Policy Institute

In the days following the defeat of Issue 3 -- a statewide ballot initiative that would have legalized marijuana for medical and recreational purposes -- state legislative leaders have indicated that they will begin exploring options for potential legalization of medical marijuana (Source: “House leaders to carefully explore medical marijuana,” Columbus Dispatch, Nov. 4, 2014). 

Ohio Speaker of the House Cliff Rosenberger, R-Clarksville, said the legislative plan is to engage the medical community, possibly including state funding for studies, and release a series of bills and resolutions in the coming weeks, with potential action next year. They will include a pilot program and urging Congress to drop marijuana to a lower drug classification.

Watch for related articles in OPPA's upcoming quarterly newsletter Insight Matters to be distributed to members tomorrow, Wed., Nov. 10.

 

Related:

Report: As Marijuana Use Increases, So Does Addiction A new study published in JAMA Psychiatry, found that marijuana use has more than doubled since 2001, with nearly 10 percent of adults throughout the country reporting marijuana use in 2013. At the same time, the percentage of people reporting dependence or abuse of marijuana also doubled, from 1.5
percent in 2001 to nearly 3 percent in 2013. Among marijuana users, the report found that three out of every 10 people, or nearly seven million Americans, have a marijuana abuse or addiction problem. The biggest increases in marijuana abuse and dependence was found among middle-aged or older adults, women, African-Americans, Hispanics and people living in the southern U.S. The report also noted that many people who use marijuana do not become addicted, but with a 30 percent chance of abuse or dependence, the number of people struggling from addiction to marijuana is likely to keep increasing as the number of marijuana users also increases.