Once a symbol of the counterculture, cannabis has gone mainstream. As of 2022, more Americans use cannabis than cigarettes. Only four states still outright ban it; 20 states allow recreational and medical use. Cities and villages across southeast Ohio — including Athens, Glouster, Jacksonville, Nelsonville and Trimble — don’t prosecute for possession of 7 ounces or less. Nearly 350,000 Ohioans have registered for medical cannabis cards since the program launched in 2019.
A cannabis-themed issue of The Indy for April 20 is tongue-in-cheek, but the actual content is not. Access to medical cannabis and availability of products containing THC is serious news. Whether you celebrate 4/20 or don’t know what it means (hey, I didn’t know until I was in my late 30s), it’s important to understand the impact of legal cannabis on our communities.
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