Ohio has finally followed the example of other states and now allows recreational use of marijuana. However, people must use the substance safely and follow the law.
It’s no surprise that customers lined up outside Ohio dispensaries on August 6, the first day of recreational marijuana sales in the state.
Nearly 100 medical marijuana dispensaries received operating licenses from the state Cannabis Control Board this week to sell recreational marijuana to adults. They include dispensaries in Avon Lake, Elyria, North Olmsted and Westlake.
One can only imagine how recreational marijuana users feel these days.
Many people are probably excited and thrilled about the new law that voters passed.
In November 2023, 57% of Ohio voters voted to allow people over the age of 21 to purchase, possess and grow limited amounts of cannabis for personal use.
Ballot initiative Issue 2 legalized adult recreational use of marijuana and mandated the state develop a legal recreational cannabis industry in Ohio.
However, recreational sales have been delayed while the state sets up a regulated system for purchasing and works out other rules and potential issues.
Now adults are allowed to purchase and possess up to 2.5 ounces or 70 grams of cannabis and grow up to six plants per person or 12 plants per household at home.
The beauty of the law is that legal purchases are subject to a 10% tax and the revenue is used for administrative costs, addiction treatment, communities with dispensaries, and to fund social and job creation programs to support the cannabis industry.
Voters passed similar laws in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are two important things to know about marijuana: Cannabis use can have a variety of effects on body and brain health, and there are several risk factors and negative health effects associated with cannabis use.
Cannabis is the most commonly used drug that is illegal at the federal level in the United States.
In 2021, an estimated 52.5 million people used cannabis, according to the CDC.
After alcohol, cannabis is the substance most commonly associated with impaired driving.
In 2017, about one in eight high school drivers reported using cannabis at least once in the past month.
There are other issues that concern the CDC.
People who consume cannabis may struggle with physical dependence and control issues when taking the substance.
The CDC finds this concerning because there is evidence that the use of high-strength THC products is associated with more severe symptoms of cannabis use disorder.
Three in 10 people report having a cannabis use disorder, a number the CDC calls alarming because it is increasing.
Signs and symptoms of cannabis use disorder include unsuccessful attempts to stop using the substance or forgoing important activities with friends and family in favor of using the substance.
The CDC also points out that the risk of developing cannabis use disorder is greater in people who start using at a younger age and use it more frequently.
Marijuana use can have a variety of effects on body and brain health.
Cannabis affects areas of the brain that control the body’s movements, balance, coordination, memory and judgment.
In addition, its use can impair important skills needed for safe driving.
So it’s no surprise that the CDC strongly warns people not to drive while under the influence of alcohol and to find a trusted driver or use a ride-share service.
Another important point from the CDC is that cannabis use can cause disorientation and sometimes unpleasant thoughts or feelings of anxiety and paranoia.
People who use cannabis are more likely to develop psychosis (ignorance of reality, hallucinations and paranoia) and long-term mental disorders, including schizophrenia, a type of mental illness in which sufferers hear or see things that do not actually exist.
Cannabis use is associated with depression, social anxiety and suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts and suicide.
Another stark warning from the CDC is that using cannabis during pregnancy can increase the risk of complications.
This should be a warning: pregnant and breastfeeding people should avoid consuming cannabis.
Recreational use of marijuana is legal, but it should not be abused.
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