COLUMBUS – Today, Senate Senator Kenny Yuko (D-Richmond Heights) celebrated the Ohio Senate’s passage of House Bill 523, a bill to legalize and regulate medical marijuana in Ohio. Senator Yuko has been introducing bills to legalize medical marijuana since he was a Representative in the Ohio House. H.B. 523 passed the Senate 18-15.

“This bill is not perfect, but it gives Ohio patients a critical medical option they need. It is not acceptable to make them wait any longer,” said Senator Yuko. “If we can give one veteran comfort, if we can ease one patient’s horrible pain, if we can prevent one heroin overdose or save one child’s life--this bill will be worth it.”

Senator Yuko has championed the issue of medical marijuana throughout his time in the Ohio Statehouse. This year, Senator Yuko and Senator Dave Burke (R- Marysville) held a series of town hall forums across the state to gather Ohioans’ opinions on medical marijuana. The senators heard from dozens of Ohio citizens and professional organizations on their listening tour. Senator Yuko shared some of these citizen testimonies while advocating for the bill on the floor.

“I truly believe that if every one of my colleagues had been able to join Senator Burke and myself on our listening tour, the vote for this bill would be unanimous,” said Senator Yuko.

The bill will now return to the Ohio House for a concurrence vote.