Steve Huffman
Proponents of medical marijuana warn Ohio’s program in dire need of overhaul
Ohio senators are trying once more to overhaul the state’s medical marijuana system. That effort stalled out last session after passing the Senate. Meanwhile, the bid to place adult, recreational use on the ballot has only gained steam in the interim. Tuesday, the Ohio Senate’s general government committee heard proponent testimony. Speakers raised numerous concerns […]
Senate Republicans add oil and gas lease provisions to poultry bill at eleventh hour
Last week in the Ohio Senate Agriculture committee, Republican members used a measure tied to retail poultry purchases to clear the path for greater oil and gas drilling on public lands. State Sen. Steve Huffman, R-Tipp City, added the language as part of a series of amendments meant to advance unrelated policy changes. In his […]
Ohio House approves fentanyl testing strips, ‘swatting’ legislation
Ohio House lawmakers approved a handful of measures Wednesday, clearing one for the governor and sending several others over to the Senate. Lawmakers gave the thumbs up to legislation allowing the use of campaign funds for child care costs and a regulatory “sandbox” to help new financial products get off the ground. They also approved […]
Ohio Republicans want to make June 24 ‘Life Day’ in honor of decision overturning abortion rights
A group of Ohio Republican state senators want to designate June 24 “Life Day” in Ohio, in honor of the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning national abortion rights on that date this year. Ohio Senate Bill 352 is sponsored by state Sen. Steve Huffman, R-Tipp City, with co-sponsors including state Sens. Niraj Antani, Louis Blessing, […]
Judge temporarily blocks abortion bill affecting doctors
A Hamilton County judge has blocked the state from enforcing a new abortion-related law temporarily. Common Please Court Judge Alison Hatheway said Planned Parenthood groups and the Women’s Med Dayton clinic are “likely to succeed” in their lawsuit, therefore justifying a temporary block of Senate Bill 157,. The law would have barred physicians who worked […]
Recreational marijuana backers submit signatures
A group pushing for recreational marijuana in Ohio is one step closer to the ballot after the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol submitted 200,000-plus signatures to state officials. Now county boards of elections begin the work of verifying signatures. The coalition’s plan would allow Ohioans over 21 possess, use, and purchase cannabis. They propose […]
Struggle between large, small growers takes center stage in marijuana reform measure
A Senate measure that would expand significantly the state’s medical marijuana system for businesses and patients got its second committee hearing Tuesday. The proposal is beginning to move as a different and more expansive recreational measure gathers signatures for next year’s ballot. It’s been five years since state lawmakers approved Ohio’s current medical marijuana framework, […]
Ohio senators mulling major revisions to medical marijuana system
Ohio senators have filed legislation that represents a broad revision of the state’s medical marijuana system. Among the changes is language expanding access to the drug if a physician “reasonably” believes their patient’s symptoms would be relieved or they would otherwise benefit from marijuana. It’s a potentially massive expansion of eligibility for patients after years […]
House lawmakers leave racism resolution on the table
A resolution declaring racism a public health crisis did not receive a hearing before the Ohio House of Representatives left for their summer break. The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus announced the measure at the beginning of the month, and it was referred to the House’s State and Local Government Committee on June 3. The bill […]
The benefits — and challenges — of changing Ohio schools’ start times
There are consequences to being athletic in the largest school district in Ohio. The Switzerland of Ohio Local School District, located in Southeast Ohio’s Monroe, Belmont and Noble counties, covers 546 square miles — almost half the size of Rhode Island. On a Tuesday earlier this season, the Monroe Central High School Seminoles got out […]
Ohio Senator proposes ban on abortion drugs via telemedicine
An Ohio Senator is looking for co-sponsors to a bill that would ban telemedicine as a way of receiving abortion medication. State Sen. Steve Huffman, R-Tipp City, sent a letter to senate members on Tuesday explaining the bill that would affect the prescription of a two-pill regimen, Mifepristone and Misoprostol, used in inducing an abortion. […]