Public opinion about marijuana has undergone a radical transformation over the last fifty years. In 1969, only 12% of the population thought cannabis should be legalized, which 67% of people were pro-weed in 2019.

During the 2020 election alone, four more states joined the list of places where marijuana is fully legalized.

What about Ohio? Is weed legal in Ohio?

Let’s take a look at everything you need to know.

Is Weed Legal in Ohio?

The weed laws in Ohio have morphed over time. Let’s take a look at what’s decriminalized and what’s legal.

Is Recreational Weed Legal in Ohio?

Recreational cannabis is not legal in Ohio. However, possession of up to 100 grams has been decriminalized in the state since 1975. There are several more reforms in some of the major cities in Ohio that have been put into place since 1975.

Ohio was the sixth state to decriminalize marijuana when the Republican Governer James Rhodes signed a bill to do so in August of 1975. This bill made it so there was a maximum fine of $150 for possession of up to 100 grams of cannabis, considering it a minor misdemeanor. If an individual is found to be in possession of more than 100 grams but less than 200 grams, it is considered a misdemeanor that can receive a $250 fine and up to 30 days in jail.

There was a ballot measure in 2015 to legalize recreational weed in Ohio, but it was defeated. While there was support for legalization in the state, the specifics of the bill made it unpopular. Critics said that the ballot measure would create a monopoly of marijuana producers.

A policy was put into place in the 1990s where anyone found to be in possession of marijuana or another illegal drug would have to have their driver’s license suspended for six months. This was repealed by Governor Kasich in 2016, making it so this punishment was optional and not mandatory.

A number of municipalities have instituted reforms to the marijuana laws. Toledo, Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland have further decriminalized weed. Other smaller jurisdictions in Ohio decriminalized weed, including Northwood, Plymouth, Bremen, Nelsonville, Windham, Norwood, Oregon, Athens, Fremont, Bellaire, Newark, Roseville, and Logan.

Read Also: (What Strain Should I Smoke?)

Is There A Medicinal Marijuana Program?

A bill was signed by Governor John Kasich in June of 2016 legalizing medical marijuana in the state of Ohio. It was approved by both the state Senate and the state House.

There are twenty-one conditions that qualify an individual to obtain and use medical marijuana. These are:

Ulcerative colitis
Chron’s disease
Epilepsy or other seizure disorders
Fibromyalgia
Tourette’s syndrome
Traumatic brain injury
Glaucoma
Hepatitis C
Cancer
CTE
Multiple sclerosis
Chronic, severe, or intractable pain
Parkinson’s disease
PTSD
Sickle cell anemia
AIDS/HIV
Alzheimer’s disease
ALS
Spinal cord injury or disease
IBS
Any other condition or disease that the state medical board adds to the list

Under the law, it’s prohibited to ingest marijuana by smoking. It is therefore only permitted to be used in oil, patch, edible, vapor, plant matter, or tincture form.

What States Is Weed Legal?

There are now fifteen states where cannabis is fully legal. These are:

Maine
Vermont
New Jersey
Michigan
Illinois
South Dakota
Montana
Colorado
Washington
Oregon
California
Nevada
Arizona
Alaska

In addition to these U.S. states, cannabis is also fully legal in Washington D.C.

On election day in 2020, the states of New Jersey, South Dakota, Montana, and Arizona joined the eleven states that had previously fully legalized recreational marijuana.

On top of these fifteen states and D.C. where weed is legal, there is a long list of states where medicinal marijuana is legal. Without re-listing the states where cannabis is fully legal, the states where only medicinal use is legal are:

Florida
Minnesota
New York
Delaware
Ohio
Oklahoma
Hawaii
New Mexico
Louisiana
Maryland
North Dakota
Arkansas
Connecticut
Mississippi
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Missouri
New Hampshire
Utah
West Virginia

In a few states, only the use of CBD oil is allowed for medicinal purposes but not high-THC cannabis. These are:

Georgia
Indiana
Iowa
Kentucky
Texas
Virginia
Wisconsin

There are only a handful of states where marijuana is still fully illegal. These states are:

North Carolina
Wyoming
Alabama
Idaho
Nebraska
South Carolina
Tennessee
Kansas

As you can see, there are only a few places still holding out with marijuana being completely illegal. Over time, you can expect more states to decriminalize weed or even legalize medicinal and recreational use.

Finding Weed in Cleveland

If you are looking for legal weed in Cleveland, the only way to find it is if you qualify for one of the medical marijuana health conditions. Otherwise, you won’t be able to obtain weed legally.

Anecdotal reports say that you can find marijuana in east Cleveland. However, the crime rate in this area of Cleveland is about twice the national average, so it is not recommended that you go this route. Other online reports mention Coventry, Ceder Lee, and Lakewood.

Buying weed in this way can be dangerous. Reports online warn that you should never follow someone who says they have weed elsewhere and to be very wary of the potential to be robbed or worse. It’s advised to stay out of some of these neighborhoods after dark, to not bring too much money with you, to not wear expensive jewelry, and to bring someone else along if possible.

In addition, of course, you’d be breaking the law to purchase marijuana in this way.

Legal Weed: Hopefully On It’s Way to Ohio Soon

There is a movement to try and get a ballot measure for legal weed in Ohio in 2021. If the proposed legislation sits better with the public this time around, it’s possible that Ohio will join the list of states where weed legalization is a done deal.

This article answered the question: is weed legal in Ohio? If you’re looking for more up-to-date and interesting regarding everything that has to do with cannabis, be sure to check out the rest of our news and culture blog!