A crucial Republican legislative leader at the Ohio state Capitol this week confirmed that he’s no longer planning to pursue further restrictions on state marijuana laws, after learning more about the nuances of cannabis policy from a colleague.

Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman told News 5 Cleveland that changing marijuana laws is no longer a top priority, but cracking down on unregulated and intoxicating hemp products will be.

Huffman last month had suggested he was eyeballing a bill that had been previously approved by the state Senate which included caps on THC potency for marijuana products, banned most vape products and would reduce the number of plants residents could grow at home to six from the current dozen, News 5 Cleveland reported.

“I don’t think anybody realistically is suggesting that we’re going to repeal the legalization of marijuana,” Huffman told the news outlet. “I’m not for it. I wasn’t for the casinos coming to Ohio, either. But there’s lots of stuff that’s part of the Constitution and the law that are there that I don’t like.”

But, Huffman said, he’s got smoke shops that sell intoxicating hemp products in his crosshairs.

“I think that all THC products should go through the dispensaries,” Huffman told News 5 Cleveland.

Another Republican lawmaker, state Rep. Jamie Callender – who’s known as the Capitol cannabis enthusiast – credited Huffman’s change of heart to education on the substance of marijuana policy versus hemp issues.

The Ohio Legislature is expected to enact new cannabis-related laws this coming year and will likely tackle topics concerning both marijuana and hemp businesses, on top of a potential hemp crackdown.

Since the recreational cannabis market launched in August, the state has sold more than a quarter billion dollars worth of marijuana.

 Huffman plans to target smoke shops that sell intoxicating hemp products.  Read More  

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