Retail sales of marijuana in Ohio can start Tuesday: Capitol Letter

Rotunda Rumblings

You’re ganja have a good time: The state released the list of 98 medical marijuana dispensaries expected to receive certificates of operation Tuesday morning, which allows them to open to recreational customers. Laura Hancock writes that under the initiated statute legalizing marijuana for adult-use, people over the age of 21 can purchase up to 2.5 ounces of flower and around 0.5 ounces of extract a day. But dispensaries may have lower purchasing limits during the initial green rush.

Minor threat? The Libertarian Party of Ohio has officially regained state recognition as a minor party, making it the state’s first third-party in four years. As Jeremy Pelzer reports, Ohio Libertarians are fielding candidates in a number of races this fall – including the competitive races for U.S. Senate and U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur’s 9th Congressional District seat, where the entry of a third candidate could affect the outcome.

Gassing up: Bernie Moreno, the Republican U.S. Senate nominee, is launching a bus tour this week. Per Andrew Tobias, Moreno’s first stop was Monday morning in Chillicothe, and he was met with protesters organized by the Ohio Democratic Party, including a giant inflatable cigar-chomping fat cat. In a speech, Moreno largely focused on bashing Vice President Kamala Harris, showing how Moreno is trying to tie Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown to national Democrats, who have fared poorly in Ohio recently.

Suit yourself: In his past business career, Moreno was sued by a former employee who said he was stiffed out of money that Moreno personally promised him before he was hired. Per Andrew Tobias, Michael Falcone alleged that he was fired in retaliation for complaining about the missing pay, which had to do with Falcone’s sales commission. But Moreno said Falcone was an at-will employee who failed to understand his compensation agreement. The previously unreported lawsuit, which was settled out of court, bears similarities to other old lawsuits that have become campaign issues for Moreno as he has run for the Senate this year.

Supported by the troops: Some of the Marines that U.S. Sen. JD Vance served with, while describing their own politics as comparatively more liberal, expressed respect for the now-candidate for vice president in interviews with The Washington Post. They described a bookish young man from a small town who needed to be warned against the predatory car loan advertisers that surround some military bases.

Adjustments for Usha: Donald Trump’s decision to pick Vance, a Cincinnati Republican, as his running mate has forced his wife to rapidly adjust to a constant Secret Service presence in their lives, in addition to constant political attacks on her husband, Sabrina Eaton writes. “We have code names now,” Usha Vance told Fox News in an interview aired Monday. “Our kids had a lot of fun with that.”

Not feeling lucky: In a massive ruling that could shake the tech world, a federal judge on Monday ruled that Google has an illegal monopoly over search engines and related ad markets. As Hancock reports, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost joined his counterparts in nearly every other state, as well as the U.S. Justice Department, in filing the antitrust action against Google, which will likely appeal the decision.

What we’re watching this week

1. How will Ohio’s maiden voyage with legal, retail marijuana sales play out?

2. The Ohio 10th District Court of Appeals is reviewing a case Tuesday morning challenging fracking in state parks

3. Lt. Gov. Jon Husted is scheduled to appear at a new Rumpke Recycling and Resource Center in Columbus on Tuesday

4. The National Conference of State Legislatures meets this week in Louisville. Gongwer News Service reports there’s an Ohio Night reception at Whiskey Row

On the Move

U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, a Champaign County Republican who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, spent the weekend in Iowa campaigning for GOP colleagues Zach Nunn, Ashley Hinson and Randy Feenstra.

Straight From The Source

“The strong opposition to the project that is documented by both the county and the sole township is especially noteworthy and compelling.”

-Ohio Power Siting Board staff, in a report recommending the full panel reject a permit allowing for development of a solar farm in Stark County, due to opposition from local elected officials.

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