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As we near the end of the 2023 General Election process, many of our members are asking for more information about state Issue 2, which would legalize certain aspects of the recreational use and cultivation of marijuana. As you head to the polls or submit your absentee ballot to be counted, here is additional information about Issue 2, and why Ohio Farm Bureau encourages members to vote “no” on legalizing recreational marijuana on Nov. 7.

What is Issue 2?
Issue 2 would authorize and regulate the cultivation, processing, sale, purchase, possession, home growth, and use of recreational marijuana by adults over the age of 21.

What is Ohio Farm Bureau’s position on Issue 2?
Ohio Farm Bureau is opposed to Issue 2. This decision, made by the Ohio Farm Bureau Board of Trustees, falls directly in line with the policies created through our organization’s grassroots process.

What are the concerns about Issue 2 for the agricultural community?
Maintaining a healthy, strong, and vibrant workforce is a top priority for Ohio Farm Bureau as our members grow food, fiber, and fuel for the world and contribute billions of dollars to our state’s economy.

The passage of Issue 2 would jeopardize not only the safety of farm and food workers, but the ability to keep employees on the payroll and fill the thousands of positions still needed to keep Ohio’s #1 industry moving in the right direction.

What are the concerns about Issue 2 for the business community?
Many groups who oppose Issue 2 worry about the impact on employers and how they will develop workplace safety policies and procedures to protect their employees and businesses.

Marijuana use in the workplace has been linked to an increase in occupational accidents and injuries due to short-term effects of the drug, such as memory issues, impaired sense of timing, decreased reaction time, altered problem-solving capabilities, changes in sensory perception and impaired body movements. Although employers will still have the ability to maintain a drug-free work policy, legalized recreational marijuana still creates concerns for Ohio’s workforce due to the influence of recreational marijuana such as increased absenteeism, decreased productivity, and negative impacts on workplace safety.

What happens if Issue 2 passes?

• It would allow adults age 21 and older to buy and possess 2.5 ounces of cannabis and 15 grams of concentrates.
• It would allow Ohioans age 21 and older to grow up to six plants individually and no more than 12 in a household with multiple adults. Adult users could transfer up to 6 plants to another adult user, but cannot accept any payment for such transfer and such transfer is not advertised to the public.
• Dispensaries would be allowed to sell a wide range of products: flower, seeds, edibles, vapes, tinctures, oils, beverages, pills and lotions, among others. Ohioans could petition state regulators to allow the sale of another form of cannabis not outlined in the proposed law.
• Issue 2 would tax products at 10%, with revenue going toward administrative costs, addiction treatment programs, municipalities with dispensaries, and a social equity and jobs program.
• The Division of Cannabis Control within the Department of Commerce would set rules for licensing, testing, product standards, investigations and more. As part of that, the division would set a THC content cap of at least 35% for plant material and 90% for extracts.
• Like the medical marijuana program, Ohio would offer three different licenses: cultivator (growers), processor (businesses that turn cannabis into edibles, etc.) and dispensaries.
• Landlords can prohibit home growth activities so long as the prohibition is in the applicable lease agreement.
• Public and private employers will be able to develop their own policies for marijuana, such as rules around drug testing and use while on the job.
• If Issue 2 passes in Ohio, recreational marijuana would still remain illegal federally as a schedule I drug.

To review how Issue 2 will appear on your ballot, you can select your county here and view your sample ballot.