A lawmaker panel accepted substitute legislation Thursday to legalize medical marijuana in the state, setting up a floor vote on the bill for early next week.
The new version of House Bill 523 was approved by the Ohio House’s Select Committee on Medical Marijuana with a couple of additional amendments. Chairman Kirk Schuring, a Canton Republican, remained hopeful that a final bill could be ready for enactment before lawmakers break for their summer recess.
“We want to make sure as we move forward with medical marijuana in Ohio that we do it right, that it’s safe and efficacious for Ohioans,” Schuring said. “I think our plan does just that. I think we will see legislation enacted before the end of May.”
Ohioans for Medical Marijuana, the group pursuing one of two medical marijuana ballot issues, remained opposed to the latest version of the legislation.
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