The U.S Drug Enforcement Administration is moving to reclassify marijuana as a less harmful drug in the eyes of the federal government. Cannabis is currently considered a dangerous Schedule I drug, alongside substances like heroin, LSD and ecstasy. But it could soon be lowered to a Schedule III classification of drugs deemed to have low potential for dependence or addiction. No, this wouldn't in any way make marijuana federally legal. But it completely shakes up how the industry pays for it, how we think of weed, and what we can learn about it. Missouri legalized recreational marijuana in Febr ..read more

Marijuana may be available to buy in mid-June, significantly earlier than anticipated, due to actions from Ohios rulemaking committee, their weed-enthusiast chairperson exclusively told News 5. Despite Ohioans voting to legalize recreational marijuana 57-43% in November, there is nowhere to buy it in the state legally. The passage of Issue 2 allowed adults 21 years of age and older to smoke, vape and ingest weed. Individual Ohioans are able to grow up to six plants but up to 12 per household. Click here to learn more about what the law entails. Per Issue 2, the Department of Cannabis Control ..read more

Five months after Ohio voters legalized the use of recreational marijuana, the product remains unobtainable and Republican infighting is the likely culprit. Issue 2 passed 57-43% in November and went into effect a month later. It allows for adults 21 years of age and older to smoke, vape and ingest weed. Individual Ohioans would also be able to grow up to six plants, but up to 12 per household. Click here to learn more about what the law entails. While you won't get in trouble for getting high, you'll have a big problem trying to buy it legally. Right now, there are no authorized sellers. The ..read more

The first drive-thru medical marijuana dispensary in the state of Ohio is located in Lorain and has officially opened for business. The dispensary, The Citizen by Klutch, even grows locally in Akron. The dispensarys goal is to make patient access easy, fast, and simple. We wanted to create a workflow where we are really helping patients move through, so they are not waiting in line, said Lauren Deland, director of retail operations. We want them to enjoy coming to the dispensary. Instead of ordering from a paper menu, customers order at an interactive kiosk that explains brands, strains, and o ..read more

One way or another, the number of medical marijuana dispensaries in Ohio is supposed to more than double in 2022. Monday, the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program and Board of Pharmacy posted the list of dispensary license lottery applications in the order that they were picked on January 27. Its part of the programs second round of dispensary license allocations. See the full ranked list here. News 5 Cleveland recently reported on the real estate and application frenzy the process was creating despite the limited number of licenses available across the state, and a five-dispensary cap for ..read more

On Monday, the Coalition to Regular Marijuana Like Alcohol (CRMLA) submitted 206,943 signatures in support of a statute that would legalize adult-use marijuana to the Ohio Secretary of State, and if verified and other requirements are met, the statute will be presented to Ohio legislators for consideration, the group stated in a news release. The Secretary of State will begin verifying the signatures in coordination with county boards of elections, the release states. If at least 132,877 signatures are verified and the 44-county requirement is met, the statute will be presented to state lawmak ..read more

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine gave more insight into what changes Statehouse leaders want to make to the newly passed recreational marijuana law, much to Democrats' chagrin. Ohio voters spoke and passed Issue 2, the proposal to legalize recreational marijuana for adults, decisively. "We have an obligation I believe, to carry that out," DeWine said Monday. Just because DeWine has said two weeks in a row that it is important to accept the will of the people doesnt mean that their will cant be edited by Statehouse leaders. RELATED: Ohio Gov. DeWine accepts will of the people on abortion, marijuana, b ..read more

Early voting numbers are being rolled out for the November election on abortion and marijuana in Ohio, and the turnout has been remarkable especially in Democratic stronghold counties. More than 800,000 ballots have already been cast in early voting, but absentee vote-by-mails still have five days to make it to the boards of elections. Analysis Statehouse reporter Morgan Trau has been working on a data series related to Nov. election. For her analyses, she has reached out to dozens of counties with different political leanings all across the state. From gathering raw data from boards of electi ..read more

The deadline to apply to vote by mail for the Nov. 7 election in Ohio is Tuesday evening. In this election, voters will decide on local issues and candidates, like city council members, and statewide Issue 1 and Issue 2. Issue 1 is the amendment to protect access to abortion and contraception, while Issue 2 would legalize recreational marijuana. All ballot applications must be received by county boards of elections by 8:30 p.m. These could reach the boards by U.S. mail or brought to their 24-hour drop box. At this point, it is your best bet to fill out the form and bring it directly to th ..read more

When it comes to marijuana use on a young person's body and mind, what do we know? What does the science say? "The science is pretty clear on the effects of marijuana and two key critical periods of brain development," said Dr. Sheryl Ryan, a fellow with the American Academy of Pediatrics. "One is during fetal life, fetal development, and second is really during adolescence." Ryan said data shows developing brains up to the mid-20s are vulnerable to the effects of the psychoactive component in cannabis, THC. "THC, which crosses into the blood-brain barrier, attaches to the cannabinoid receptor ..read more