Photos Provided Matthew Cooper of Martins Ferry, left, and William Schmitt Jr., owner of Holistic Cloud and newly elected Bellaire councilman, rally at the corner of Aetna Street and Ohio 7 in Martins Ferry earlier this year to encourage voters to support Issue 2 to legalize recreational marijuana for adults in Ohio. Voters approved the measure Nov. 7, but lawmakers are now debating changes to it.

LOCAL ADVOCATES for marijuana legalization William Schmitt Jr. of Bellaire and Matthew Cooper of Martins Ferry traveled to the Ohio Statehouse on Tuesday to voice their opposition to Ohio lawmakers’ proposed changes to marijuana legalization that is set to take effect Thursday.

Schmitt, owner of the Holistic Cloud shop and newly elected Bellaire councilman who will start his term in 2024, said Ohio residents need to “act today” to oppose the proposed changes to the legalization of recreational marijuana that was approved by voters on Nov. 7.

Schmitt said the proposed changes would make it illegal to grow marijuana at home, would increase the sales tax on the substance from 10% to 15% and change where that money goes. They also would only allow people to possess 1 ounce at a time and create a ban on public smoking of marijuana. Schmitt also said that the changes would create a license limit of 230, and 107 of those licenses are currently occupied by dispensaries affiliated with the medical marijuana program.

“This legislation would also prohibit the retail sale of any hemp product that contains more than 0.5 milligrams of delta-9 THC per serving and more than 2 milligrams of D9 per product. It would also ban from retail all other THCs, including delta-8, without limitation. Even more ridiculous, it imposes the same restrictions on topical hemp products, as if consumers are in danger of ingesting CBD lotions,” Schmitt said.

Cooper and Schmitt attended the second hearing of House Bill 86, which would implement the proposed changes.

“We’re headed to the front lines to defend your rights,” Cooper said.

Schmitt said officials both for and against the changes voiced their opinions at the session.

Before Election Day, Schmitt and Cooper along with other supporters rallied at the corner of Aetna Street and Ohio 7 in Martins Ferry to encourage voters to support Issue 2 to legalize recreational marijuana for adults in Ohio.

During the Nov. 7 election, 57% of Ohio voters cast ballots in favor of the measure; as a result, adult recreational use of marijuana is set to become legal in the Buckeye State on Thursday.

Schmitt and Cooper are encouraging Ohio residents to call or email state senators to voice their opinions.

“Let them know this is not what we voted for. … You need to do what you can from home,” Cooper said.

Schmitt and Cooper also noted that alcoholic drinks could be purchased in the Ohio Statehouse Museum Shop during their visit.

“They sell wine here, but they’re worried about cannabis. Come on, now,” Copper said.

“If they sell alcohol in here, they should sell cannabis in here, too. Alcohol is way worse than cannabis,” Schmitt said.

Schmitt and Cooper said they would post updates on Facebook about the proposed changes. Clips from the hearing can also be found on Schmitt’s Facebook page.

More information and updates can be found at ohiosenate.gov.

A video of the hearing that Schmitt and Cooper attended can be viewed at ohiochannel.org.