Greg Smith of Oxford has seen the use of marijuana since before its legalization. He said weed is already overused in a town surrounded by college students, and the legalization makes it less of a stigma.
Smith has lived in Oxford for almost 25 years and he said life in Oxford was more strict and people were more cautious when he first moved here. Still, he said he believes legalization is a good decision and hopes the city will have no problems with the new flexible laws.
“It was already being used anyway, might as well make it legal,” said Smith.
The state of Ohio legalized cannabis for recreational use after Issue 2 passed by a 57–43 margin Nov. 7, 2023. The Oxford Police Department (OPD) said this new law will not impact law enforcement work.
Recreational cannabis sales began Aug. 6 of this year. According to OPD officers, weed has been present in the town before its legalization –legalizing it has simply made it more visible.
Since the legalization, dispensaries and smoke shops have been noticeably busier while smoke shops in the area continue to sell cannabidiol (CBD) products.
Oxford Smoke Time on High Street said they had seen growth in popularity from locals and out-of-town people.
Smoke Time holds no license for the recreational selling of marijuana. Their permit allows them to only sell CBD bill delta-8 products, which, currently, cost more than usual given its newfound popularity.
“Usually over-the-counter stuff sells pretty well…,” said Trevor Rybolt, a staff member at Oxford Smoke.
Oxford does have two dispensaries for recreational and medical use of marijuana.
Oxford Police Lieutenant Lara Fening said legally this new law will not impact law enforcement work. She said after laws become more honed, enforcement of infractions on the public use of marijuana would probably not lead to convictions.
Fening said this topic creates a quality of life and safety concern in the department, considering the statistics of case reports.
“I think it will be, personally, a regretful time in our history that this happened,” said Fening.
She said legalization can have an overall negative effect on the youth.
Fening said her husband, a retired police officer now working at an auto body business, has noticed that for every 10 cars he works on, three of them smell like fresh weed.
In the eyes of an Oxford resident who attends Miami, sophomore Anna Reiff said the legalization of weed has mostly brought benefits to the community. Although she considers the possible health and safety concerns previously addressed by Fening, Reiff said she believes the benefits outweigh the negatives of the new law.
“Making it legally accessible for people, I think there is no harm in doing that as long as it is done in a safe way,” said Reiff.
Reiff said she shares her direct understanding of one use of weed specifically surrounding her generation. “I know a few people that use CBD products for pain, and legalizing it would continue to make it an accessible way to help relieve their pain,” said Reiff.
Although the new law might present challenges in the community, residents like Reiff hope for the best outcome.
“I hope by legalizing Marijuana it can benefit those who need it most.”
