Marijuana legalization continues to be a hot topic around the world, as more US states discuss legalizing the drug. Ohio is now among the states that have made history by legalizing recreational use of marijuana.
On August 15th 2020, Ohio made a major move in the fight to legalize cannabis—the Ohio governor announced that the state would recognize the medical need for marijuana, and that Ohio would be the first state in the Midwest to authorize it for recreational use as well.
The decision paves the way for Ohioans to purchase marijuana legally and create an entirely new industry in the state. However, this new development brings with it a slew of cybersecurity and regulatory challenges.
Ohio’s new marijuana law has brought new attention to federal and state regulations regarding the production, sale, distribution, and use of marijuana. It has sparked a debate over a myriad of issues: how government agencies will regulate the use and sale of marijuana, how the industry will be managed, and how to handle potential security and data privacy threats.
Essential questions that need to be addressed include how to stop underage use, the reliability of the cannabis industry, and whether it can hold up to rigorous healthcare and safety standards.
Furthermore, the way that Ohio—and other states with similar laws—will treat marijuana crime is a top concern. It is important to ensure that those who get caught in possession of marijuana are treated fairly. This means that the court system should determine the consequences of criminal acts involving marijuana, rather than mere legal penalties.
The debate, then, remains: should marijuana use be considered harmless and thus subject to the same regulations as other drugs? Or should it be viewed as a more serious drug?
Regardless of the answers, Ohio’s weed win has brought attention to an important issue. Hopefully it will spur a dialog among many, from officials to the everyday citizens, that will help us better understand the complex legal and ethical issues surrounding marijuana use.
Ohio’s Weed Win: Federal Attention to Cannabis Use Erupts
