Medical marijuana costs Ohio patients about $310 an ounce, “which is much higher than any other surrounding state,” Huffman said.

Ohio issues two levels of cultivator licenses for marijuana. A level one license allows a growing operation of up to 25,000 square feet, while level two authorizes up to 3,000 square feet. Growers complained those levels were set when few people had qualified to receive the drugs.

Huffman’s Senate Bill 261 would write into law a September announcement from the Ohio Department of Commerce that licensed growers could apply to expand their operations. Under the new rules, level one license-holders could grow on up to 75,000 square feet, and level two growers could use up to 20,000 square feet.

“So essentially if there’s more product, the price will come down,” Huffman said.

It would also increase the allowable number of dispensaries in the state, based on the number of patients. In some areas, such as northwest Ohio, people have to drive an hour to find a dispensary, Huffman said. His bill would allow one dispensary to open for each 1,000 eligible patients in the state. [Read more at Springfield News-Sun]