Budget passes allowing for Ohio marijuana tax revenue to stay in host communities, what's next?
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Local leaders are expressing excitement and relief after the State of Ohio passed its budget on Wednesday, which included language that would allow for local municipalities with marijuana dispensaries to keep 36% of the tax revenue generated from sales.
21 News spoke with Austintown Township Trustee Robert Santos, who has been fighting for his township and others with dispensaries in the Mahoning Valley to be able to keep the revenue they were promised when Ohioans voted to pass Issue 2 in 2023.
"We're extremely excited to see the legislators listen to the people, listen to their elected officials down here at our level, and follow through with what the people voted for back in November," said Santos.
Santos thanked several local leaders for their help in the fight, including Struthers Mayor Catherine Cercone Miller, Girard Mayor Mark Zuppo, and Niles Mayor Steve Mientkiewcz, as well as the Mahoning County Board of Commissioners and local State Representatives Lauren McNally and Tex Fischer.
"We really felt that is what should've been done. That's the fair part of it. We haven't seen any of that money yet, so when we do, we're going to be even more excited when that happens," said Mayor Catherine Miller.
However, even though the budget passed, state representatives say those host communities still won't see that revenue come in right away.
McNally explained this is because there were two pieces of legislation dealing with marijuana revenue in Ohio. The budget, which passed on Wednesday, and a Senate bill discussing how that money is spent, which still has not passed.
The Senate bill is currently awaiting passage in the House of Representatives. Fischer says the soonest the House bill could pass is October, so the earliest host communities can expect to see those funds come in is in the fall of 2025.
Fischer says he expects host communities to see those funds by the end of the year at the latest.
Fischer adds that while there is a possibility that the Senate Bill could be amended to have that local revenue go back to the state, he believes this is very unlikely to happen.
"Obviously in the house there are a lot of differing opinions on Issue 2 in general and the best way to implement that, but I think the local dollars, that was the easy part," Fischer added.