The blunt reality: who really profits from marijuana legalization?

By Nia Thomas Manager of Social Justice at the Holloman Center Cincinnati Ohio has officially joined the ranks of states legalizing adult-use marijuana, with the passage of Issue 2, a significant ballot initiative. This move positions Ohio as the 24th state to embrace the legalization of recreational marijuana for adults aged 21 and above. The new statute allows adults to have or buy up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana flower and 15 grams of extract. Despite the celebration of legalization, critics on all sides predict long-term effects which may create more harm than good. Some critics voice concerns around conflict-of-interest issues since a large portion of campaign funding came from companies and investors who stand to financially benefit from legalization.     Others criticize the lack of language addressing folks prosecuted or incarcerated for marijuana related offenses. Shockingly, since 2018, there have been over 53,000 arrests for marijuana-related offenses in Ohio alone, according to data from the NORML Foundation. Most of these cases involved possession alone. This issue is especially alarming since champions for legalization are excited to begin a new era given the historical racial disparities in drug enforcement. Yet, advocates and scholars are left asking the age-old question, “Is this...