Politics
Most Ohioans Support Opening New Marijuana Shops In The State And Say They Improve The Economy, Poll Finds
Ohioans are broadly supportive of having marijuana dispensaries in the state, with a majority saying the industry is positively impacting the economy, according to a new poll.
Researchers at Ohio Northern University’s Institute for Civics and Public Policy (ICAPP) surveyed adults on a wide range of what it called “backyard issues,” including solar farms, multi-family housing and cannabis shops.
Overall, it found that 47 percent of respondents support the construction of marijuana dispensaries “whether in new buildings or by converting existing commercial buildings,” while just 28 percent said they’re against it. That seems to conflict with talking points from prohibitionists who’ve long argued that, while a majority of the public might support legalization in theory, they don’t want cannabis retailers in their communities.
The poll also found that a majority of Ohioans (61 percent) feel marijuana dispensaries are having a positive impact on the economy, while a plurality (41 percent) agree those retailers have improved quality of life.
Despite those findings, a plurality of respondents (37 percent) said that dispensaries have a negative impact on public safety, compared to 30 percent who said safety is improved with the businesses.
Fifty-four percent said the retail operations have a negative impact on the environment, while 36 percent said the impact is positive.
“There is overall support for cannabis dispensaries in Ohio, especially when it comes to their economic impact, but that support drops considerably when discussing other impacts of the issue like public safety,” Brian King, assistant professor of political science and faculty associate at ICAPP, said in a press release.
“Those over 65 have the most negative opinions of dispensaries overall, while conservatives and those making more than $100,000 annually also express negative opinions when it comes to dispensaries’ impact on public safety,” he said.
“Public opinion matters,” King said, “and these results will inform policymakers throughout the state about what their constituents want and why.”
The poll—which involved interviews with 1,638 Ohio adults from October 7-13—comes amid a debate within the state legislature about proposals to revise the voter-approved marijuana legalization law and add restrictions to the hemp products.
That legislative effort hit a roadblock last month—with the Senate soundly rejecting the latest amended version that advanced out of the House.
The legislation from Sen. Stephen Huffman (R) first passed the Senate in February before reaching the House floor last week, where members approved substantive changes scaling back certain controversial provisions but still maintained language advocates say undermines the will of voters who approved legalization in 2023.
While the current bill’s supporters have described it as a less heavy-handed approach compared to the original Senate measure, the legislation would make substantive changes to the existing legalization law—with several provisions that advocates say directly contradict the will of voters and represent overreach on the part of lawmakers.
For example, the proposal would eliminate language in current statute providing anti-discrimination protections for people who lawfully use cannabis. That includes protections meant to prevent adverse actions in the context of child custody rights, the ability to qualify for organ transplants and professional licensing.
It would also recriminalize possessing marijuana from any source that isn’t a state-licensed dispensary in Ohio or from a legal home grow. As such, people could be charged with a crime for carrying cannabis they bought at a legal retailer in neighboring Michigan.
Additionally, it would ban smoking cannabis at outdoor public locations such as bar patios—and it would allow landlords to prohibit vaping marijuana at rented homes. Violating that latter policy, even if it involves vaping in a person’s own backyard at a rental home, would constitute a misdemeanor offense.
Unlike the Senate-passed version of the bill, the House substitute would send tax revenue from cannabis sales to local governments.
The latest Senate vote on concurrence comes weeks after the governor issued emergency rules prohibiting the sale of intoxicating hemp products for 90 days, with instructions to the legislature to consider permanent regulations. Earlier this month, however, a county judge enjoined the state from enforcing that policy in response to a legal challenge.
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Meanwhile, in September, the Ohio Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) filed new proposed rules to build upon the state’s marijuana legalization law, laying out plans to update regulations on labeling and packaging requirements.
The proposal came weeks after Ohio medical and adult-use marijuana sales officially crossed $3 billion, data from the state Department of Commerce (DOC) shows.
The state sold about $703 million in recreational cannabis in the law’s first year of implementation, according to DCC data.
In March, a survey of 38 municipalities by the Ohio State University’s (OSU) Moritz College of Law found that local leaders were “unequivocally opposed” to earlier proposals that would have stripped the planned funding.
Meanwhile in Ohio, adults as of June are able to buy more than double the amount of marijuana than they were under previous limits, with state officials determining that the market can sustainably supply both medical cannabis patients and adult consumers.
The governor in March separately announced his desire to reallocate marijuana tax revenue to support police training, local jails and behavioral health services. He said funding police training was a top priority, even if that wasn’t included in what voters passed in 2023.
Ohio’s Senate president has also pushed back against criticism of the Senate bill, claiming the legislation does not disrespect the will of the electorate and would have little impact on products available in stores.
Photo courtesy of Brian Shamblen.
