Bill > HB631

This bill amends Ohio's marijuana laws to clarify and modify provisions related to underage possession, consumption, and purchase of marijuana. Specifically, the bill introduces a new approach for handling underage marijuana offenses by establishing a diversion program for individuals under 21 who are charged with marijuana possession. Under this new framework, when a person under 21 is first charged with possessing adult-use or homegrown marijuana, the court may offer a diversion program that, if successfully completed, will result in the complaint being dismissed and the record sealed. However, a person is ineligible for this diversion if they have previously been diverted for a similar offense. The bill also establishes that a first-time underage marijuana possession offense is a third-degree misdemeanor. For offenders under 18 who are caught with marijuana while in a motor vehicle, the bill mandates additional penalties, including a driver's license suspension ranging from six months to one year, or restrictions on obtaining a driver's license depending on the offender's age. These changes aim to provide a rehabilitative approach to young marijuana offenders while still maintaining legal consequences for underage possession.