Second warning: Ohio doubles down on prohibition against marijuana on bar, restaurant patios – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

COLUMBUS, Ohio – As the weather turns warm and bar and restaurant outdoor patios open, state alcohol and law enforcement agencies are again warning liquor permit holders that they cannot host any marijuana events.

This is the second such warning in recent months. The first came in December, shortly after voters legalized recreational marijuana in Ohio. It pointed to a section of state administrative rule that says marijuana is still considered a controlled substance by the federal government, regardless of Ohio law, and liquor permit holders cannot knowingly or willfully allow the use of controlled substances on their premises.

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There have been no complaints or questions recently from permit holders to the state about the rule, said Brandon Klein, a spokesman for the Ohio Division of Liquor Control. Nor have state officials found anyone in violation of the rule, he said.

The reminder comes as “as patio season gets in full swing,” according to a statement from the Division of Liquor Control and the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Ohio Investigative Unit, a group of officers who visit bars and restaurants to ensure liquor laws are being followed