In 2023, Ohio voters made their desires clear when they approved Issue 2, a measure legalizing recreational cannabis use. Ohioans across the state, from rural counties like Meigs and Vinton, to the urban areas of Cleveland and Columbus, all supported making changes to the state’s laws regarding cannabis.
Since then, Republican leaders in Columbus have brought important conservative principles to the table as Ohio seeks to craft its state policies. Conservatives must ensure any reforms reflect key values such as competitive markets, low taxes, fiscal responsibility, protecting families, and empowering law enforcement.
Congressional inaction in this area will only hamper Ohio’s ability to achieve these goals in its future cannabis market. It is critical that Republicans in Congress choose to empower states to achieve these conservative principles rather than maintaining a harmful status quo.
Although 38 states now have a medical or adult use cannabis market, our federal laws still look the same today as they did 50 years ago. The resulting conflict leaves not just many patients, doctors, and business owners, but also law enforcement, with significant uncertainty. It also impedes the ability of local law enforcement to stem the flow of unregulated, illicit products into their states and fight back against cartels and gangs that undermine public safety in our communities.
Fortunately, there is an easy solution to this problem within a piece of legislation recently introduced in Congress called the STATES 2.0 Act. This legislation aligns federal policy with state policy so that existing cannabis markets are safer, and federal law enforcement efforts can be focused on keeping cannabis out of states where it remains illegal. It restores federalism by not legalizing cannabis federally, but instead allowing states to make their own choices.
Not only will this type of legislation empower states, but it also allows them to create marketplaces where licensed companies are chosen by consumers over unregulated and unsafe illicit providers.
There are further benefits to this legislation: it will improve public safety by allowing limited federal resources to be refocused on combating driving under the influence, ensuring product safety, preventing youth access, and improving options for adults living with chronic diseases including epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and opioid addiction.
Additionally, it will help us protect patients – including our nation’s veterans - by ensuring they can access safe products that have been shown to be effective treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other medical problems.
This conservative approach to cannabis policy in D.C. is key, as it respects a state’s right to make the best decision for its citizens. And it is also a popular approach – with 60% of Republicans in Ohio supporting the STATES 2.0 Act and 70% of Republican primary voters nationwide supporting this approach.
More conservatives on Capitol Hill are beginning to support this bill, including Ohio's own Representative Max Miller and Republican lawmakers from the states of Florida, North Dakota, and Oregon.
We hope that other conservative leaders across the country will join us in our support of this right approach to cannabis policy.
Jeremiah Mosteller serves as policy director at Americans for Prosperity. Representative David Joyce represents Ohio's 14th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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