| State Senate’s Legislation a Good First Step, Enhancements Needed |
| (COLUMBUS, OH) – As the Ohio legislature debates how the state will implement commercial sales of marijuana and THC drug products, Smart Approaches to Marijuana Action (SAM Action) President Dr. Kevin Sabet, a former White House drug policy advisor to Presidents Obama, Bush and Clinton, is urging members of the Ohio General Assembly to strengthen protections for public health and safety included in legislations passed earlier this week by the State Senate. “Ohioans are facing an onslaught of psychoactive drugs that science links with depression, IQ loss, suicidality, psychosis, schizophrenia, and heart conditions. The data has consistently proven that these drugs are a disaster for public health and safety. While many of the provisions included in the Senate’s bill are positive and reflect changes we presented to legislators, more should be done to protect communities that are already facing a serious drug crisis,” Sabet said. Provisions incorporated into the State Senate-passed legislation that were originally put forward by SAM Action include: – Restrictions on advertisements aimed at young people; – Enabling municipalities to opt out of sales and consumption sites; – and Strict potency caps for marijuana and THC products. “The industry has spent millions telling Ohioans that their products are safe and even ‘recreational.’ That’s an outright lie. These are dangerous drugs that can have serious consequences for users of all ages, especially young people. Allowing so-called ‘medical marijuana’ stores to sell recreational drugs will result in regulatory confusion and an influx of illicit products, just as we’ve seen in other states,” Sabet added. “Members of the General Assembly should look to strengthen policies that place meaningful oversights on the addiction-for-profit industry. Marijuana products should carry health warning labels, as is already required for all tobacco and alcohol products. Reporting requirements should also be established so that the public can understand the harms created by legalization, and strict ethics guidelines should be established for members of governing and regulatory bodies.” |