Ohio SB 56 passed by the Senate
The bill holds Ohio’s cannabis industry hostage
In 2023, Ohioans voted to legalize adult-use cannabis, anticipating economic growth, job creation and increased tax revenue. However, on Feb. 26, the Ohio Senate passed Senate Bill 56 (SB 56), a measure that threatens to undermine this potential by imposing restrictive regulations that could stifle the burgeoning industry.
The bill now moves to the Ohio House of Representatives and, if approved, will head to Gov. Mike DeWine’s desk for final approval.
Rather than addressing real concerns, SB 56 serves as a ransom note to Ohio’s cannabis industry—politicians are fully aware of the economic promise of adult-use cannabis, yet they are using unnecessary regulations and excessive taxation to hold that promise hostage.
Ohio’s cannabis market: Billion-dollar industry in jeopardy
Economic projections for Ohio’s adult-use cannabis market are substantial. BDSA, a cannabis market intelligence firm, estimates that combined medical and adult-use sales in Ohio could reach $1.65 billion by 2027. Industry analysts suggest the market could eventually grow to $4 billion, aligning with per capita sales in Midwestern states like Michigan.
However, SB 56 introduces major obstacles to this growth by imposing unnecessary restrictions, including:
- Increasing the cannabis excise tax from 10 percent to 15 percent, making Ohio’s tax structure one of the highest in the midwest.
- Reducing the number of home-grown plants from 12 to six.
- Placing limits on THC concentration in legal cannabis products.
- Eliminating the social equity program, which was designed to reinvest tax revenue into communities most impacted by past cannabis prohibition.
These changes not only disregard voter intent but also create a hostile business environment that will drive consumers to other states. Looking at other midwestern states provides insight into what Ohio stands to lose if SB 56 is enacted.
Michigan, with a population of 10 million, legalized adult-use cannabis in 2019 and has since collected over $1 billion in tax revenue. Cannabis tax revenue supports schools, roads and local governments, demonstrating the tangible benefits of a well-regulated market.
Missouri, with a population of 6.2 million, generated $1.4 billion in cannabis sales within two years of legalization—outpacing many states with older programs.
Ohio’s population is 11.8 million, meaning its cannabis market could be even larger. However, SB 56’s strict marketing rules, high taxes and excessive regulations will make Ohio’s cannabis more expensive than in midwestern states, like Michigan and Missouri. This will only push consumers to Michigan, where cannabis is cheaper and more accessible.
Ohio SB 56 is a solution in search of a problem
Supporters of SB 56 claim that additional regulations are needed to prevent societal harm. However, there is no evidence that adult-use cannabis legalization has caused a negative societal impact in Ohio or other states. In fact, research from multiple studies, including those sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), shows that:
- Youth cannabis consumption has not increased in states where cannabis is legal. Studies show that teenage cannabis use has either remained the same or declined post-legalization.
- Arrests for cannabis-related offenses have decreased significantly, allowing law enforcement to focus on more serious crimes.
- Cannabis legalization has not led to an increase in violent crime, contradicting claims from opponents of legalization.
Despite this scientific evidence, Ohio lawmakers continue to push the same outdated “Reefer Madness” rhetoric, painting cannabis as a public health threat while ignoring the well-documented dangers of alcohol, which kills thousands of children and young adults every year through alcohol poisoning, impaired driving and related accidents.
Conclusion: SB 56 must be stopped
The Ohio Senate’s passage of SB 56 last month represents a blatant attempt to undermine the will of the voters and weaken the state’s economic potential. The bill now moves to the Ohio House of Representatives, where lawmakers have the opportunity to reject this misguided legislation. If it passes the House, DeWine will have to decide whether to support Ohio’s economic future or cave to baseless fear mongering.
Ohio has the chance to create one of the strongest cannabis markets in the midwest, but SB 56 threatens to send consumers and tax revenue elsewhere.
Lawmakers must vote against this bill to protect Ohio’s cannabis industry, honor the will of the voters, and ensure that Ohio does not fall behind while other states thrive.
NEWS SHORTS: Announcements
(Announcements are compiled from press releases and in the order received )
NEWS SHORTS BRIEFS ARE UPDATED DAILY
ANNOUNCEMENTS
UToledo interim leaders hired as permanent deans
The University of Toledo is investing in its academic leadership team by naming several interim deans to the permanent roles of the university’s law, engineering and medical schools.
The new deans include Rebecca Zietlow, who has served as interim dean of the College of Law since June 2023; Dr. Mohammad Elahinia, who has led the College of Engineering as interim dean since March 2024; and Dr. Imran Ali, who assumed interim leadership of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences in July 2024.
TMA named Best Art Museum in 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards
TOLEDO – The Toledo Museum of Art (TMA) has been voted the Best Art Museum in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for 2025. This national recognition, determined by public vote, underscores TMA’s progress in fulfilling its vision to become the model museum in the United States for its commitment to quality and its culture of belonging.
“We are honored and excited to be named the Best Art Museum in USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards,” said Adam Levine, the Toledo Museum of Art’s Edward Drummond and Florence Scott Libbey director. “This recognition is a tribute to the dedication of our staff, the relevance of our strategy, and the support of our exceptional community. We are grateful to everyone who voted for TMA and helped showcase Toledo as a world-class arts destination.”
Selected from a competitive field of 20 institutions across the country, TMA topped the final list of 10 winning museums, including the Detroit Institute of Arts, Cincinnati Art Museum, American Visionary Art Museum, Brooklyn Museum, Joslyn Art Museum, The Dali Museum, Philbrook Museum of Art, Memorial Art Gallery, and The Andy Warhol Museum. (03/04)
LC4 receives new director, new deputy director
TOLEDO – The Board of Lucas County Commissioners voted to appoint Dave
Blyth as the director of Lucas County Canine Care & Control (LC4) and chief Lucas County
dog warden. Blyth has a wealth of knowledge and experience in canine care and control and is very familiar with Lucas County’s operations. He served as a deputy dog warden at LC4 from 1981 to 2008. He has a degree in law enforcement from University of Toledo and certifications from the National Animal Care and Control Association.
The Board also voted to appoint Terra Bundy as the deputy director of LC4, a position new to the table of organization. In addition to assisting in day-to-day operations, she will be responsible for refining the department’s policies and procedures and ensuring staff are trained and equipped for success. Bundy has a strong background in human resources and labor relations and robust knowledge of Lucas County operations.
Both are expected to start in March.
Rep. Elgin Rogers, Jr. announces bipartisan passage of $11.5B transportation budget, creating jobs, projects and opportunities
COLUMBUS– State Rep. Elgin Rogers, Jr. (D-Toledo) voted to pass the bipartisan Ohio Transportation Budget (House Bill 54) through the Ohio House of Representatives. The budget’s appropriation of $11.5B is a significant investment into the future of Ohio jobs, connecting the workforce to the worksite, and the bill will improve roads, bridges, and transit systems across Ohio.
Selected provisions brought forward by Rep. Rogers, Jr. and included in House Bill (HB) 54:
- Provides $8B in statewide highway construction and maintenance projects over the Biennium
- Makes progress toward meeting the state’s significant public transportation needs by appropriating nearly $200M for public transit, including $30M to continue the Ohio Workforce Mobility Partnership Program
- Appropriates $18M for Transportation Improvement Districts to invest in local infrastructure across the state
- Protects construction workers on the highway by establishing the Road Safety Pilot Program to assess speed compliance in construction zones, but prohibits using traffic law photo devices for any purpose, including a citation, summons, or ticket
- Authorizes the continued distribution of gas tax revenue to cities, counties, and townships across Ohio to support local road maintenance;
- Adopts the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact, which creates the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission and earmarks $25K in each fiscal year to pay for the costs associated with joining the compact
- Continues funding commitments to the Brent Spence Bridge
HB 54 passed the House by a 97-0 vote. It now heads to the Ohio Senate for consideration.
Toledo Rockets rally together for record-setting day of giving
University of Toledo alumni, faculty, staff and friends came together for a record-setting Rocket Forward Day of Giving.
The annual 36-hour crowdfunding campaign set a record for the most participants with 3,882 gifts made totaling $2,102,228 in support for UToledo. The 2025 campaign finished strong with a 58 percent increase in gifts and 23 percent increase in funds raised when compared to the previous year.
The fundraising campaign ran for 24 hours in February, generating online donations as well as through live event participation with community partners. Local businesses and community organizations supported Rocket Forward Day of Giving by donating a percent of sales or offering opportunities for patrons to round-up their purchase, generating $2,567.35 in support.
Funds raised through the Rocket Forward Day of Giving support areas across the University, including scholarships, athletics and educational programs, research, healthcare and community services.
A REVIEW: The Last Showgirl
No Oscar nomination .. but thumbs up anyway
Had you told me at any point in the last x-amount of time that Pamela Anderson would give a fantastic performance in a narrative feature directed by Gia Coppola, a descendant of the Coppolas … well, I guess I wouldn’t quite know how to decipher that information.
Not that Anderson wasn’t capable of the work; she was a prime target of a stereotype for her time. Do you remember the ’90s? She was a typecast from the get-go: The buxom blonde running alongside David Hasselhoff in Baywatch, the trophy rockstar wife and prized fantasy of many early-internet lumps who spent hours fidgeting with AOL.
Had she been given the chance to shine in a serious role, it wouldn’t have made a dent, save for the gossip columns taking her to task for even trying. Does Barb Wire even count? She was doomed out of the chute, never given the chance to actually show her talent.
If she had filmed a few good roles and fallen into character roles, as is the usual arc for show business, her performance would be adorned with the tired acclaim of “She’s a revelation” or “Her performance is a resurrection.” Boy, do people love throwing those phrases around without knowing where they will land.
Joke’s on them. Anderson’s performance in the The Last Showgirl, a 2024 drama film written by Kate Gersten, is worthy of such praise, without the “Oh hey, where did you go?” pretense. You finally get to see Anderson act her ass off in a prime role.
Anderson’s character, Shelly, is the last member of a once-prestigious Vegas showgirl act, clinging to the past as the show is canceled after 30+ years. She has nothing to fall back on, thanks to ignoring Father Time. Her motherly advice to the younger dancers is follow the tales of her glory days.
But nostalgia doesn’t pay the bills.
Yet, it’s that nostalgia that keeps Shelly coming back and has been all these years, even as her facade of reality crashes and she’s left to sift through the detritus.
She can’t pronounce her estranged daughter’s name during a desperate phone call; her costume snags in the next night’s show; her knees buckle on the way to the stage the night after; and she’s given the “old timer” treatment by the younger roster.
All the while, she has Annette (played by Jamie Lee Curtis in a scene-chewing performance) as her mother hen. Annette was a former head of the show-line but became the jaded Casino cocktail waitress covered in fake bronze who chain-smokes, boozes and spits pearls at the youngsters.
Curtis nails her role. As the cantankerous stateswoman, she bites into her cigarettes and stares bullets into a past she refuses to talk about. Especially with Eddie, the showrunner played by Dave Bautista.
His role was a weird case. He was miscast, but I liked what he brought to the character. The character would’ve been easy to turn into the hackneyed club owner trope. At best, you’ll get Ben Gazzara in Killing of a Chinese Bookie.
Bautista goes in the opposite direction, portraying Eddie like a dog giving you the innocent (but guilty) eyes. He can’t look up, and any time he’s scolded, he always looks away.
But all tracks lead back to Pamela.
Great work eclipses the hands to whom the little golden statue is gifted. Anderson’s performance walks the thin line between child-like wonder and lashing out at what’s left when the curtain falls on her character.
You can tell she’s done her homework. Her performance blends the right mix of childlike wonder and the refusal to give in to her seeping reality. I was reminded of Ellen Burstyn in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler, with a touch of Naomi Watts in Mulholland Dr. Anderson has cited Barbara Loden’s Wanda as a massive influence as well.
Is ‘The Last Showgirl’ a great film? The film didn’t receive a single Oscar nomination, but time, as always, will be the judge. I believe 20 years is the right amount of time to pass and to come back to an argument in full view.
Is Pamela Anderson’s performance terrific? I’ll put 10 toes in the ground and say “Yes,” despite her best actress nomination snub.
Stinky skunk cabbage emerges
Mother Nature doesn’t pay much attention to winter weather advisories.
She’s already preparing for the arrival of spring. Though winter may look silent and frozen, there’s new life stirring under the snow and ice.
In the forest, the layers of fallen leaves are a nurturing blanket. Already, the first new growth of the year has emerged and is pushing through that blanket. If it hasn’t already, it will soon flower and announce its presence with a mildly unpleasant odor.
One up-close whiff and you’ll know why it’s called skunk cabbage, even though it’s not a member of the cabbage family, and it doesn’t smell like a skunk.
The plant is uniquely suited for survival in the coming weeks of winter weather, even providing an organically heated sheath to protect its flowers.
Look for it along small streams, and in the sloughs and seeps of the Oak Openings Region.
Collingwood Arts Center to host annual burlesque shows
TOLEDO – Many forms of dance performance have toed the line between art and smut, but none compare to burlesque. The midwest’s love-hate relationship with the glamorous and sultry shows has resulted in crowds of performers moving in and out of cities, and with venues going in and out of business. Toledo is no exception.
Burlesque has a storied home in the Glass City. Most famously, it was host to Town Hall Burlesque Theatre, a venue operational in the late 1960s. Madamed and founded by Rose La Rose, an accomplished burlesque performer who earned her fame at the infamous New York venue Minsky’s, Town Hall was classy.
However, its original intention of creating luxury shows, like Minsky’s, was short-lived. Soon, adult films made their way into the theatre, its purpose changed, and it was demolished in 1968.
Today, burlesque shows are hard to come by in the city. The Collingwood Arts Center is changing that. The arts center recently hosted a speakeasy event, advertising burlesque performers. I witnessed a packed house, with multi-genre burlesque performances and the brooding atmosphere of a speakeasy.
The arts center plans to make the event an annual occurrence, a silver lining for performers like Morris and Worley, both of whom seek to land in more venues around the Toledo area. But can the negative assumptions about burlesque be changed? Jess thinks so.
The Victorian building has a lived-in atmosphere, transporting us to another time as I was led down a long, dark hallway in the basement of the Collingwood. Within an entirely black room, decorated in a classic burlesque theatre motif, there was a cash bar and Al Capone’s Vault (stacked with lottery tickets for a lucky winner).
Ruby Jade, Ada Atomic and Gina Arnez took the stage and wowed the audience with bumps, grinds and reveals. The audience generously handed out tips and wooed at their moves.
Jess Worley said the only place she’s seen burlesque performed in Toledo is the Collingwood Arts Center at the Speakeasy event. “It was incredible and I love the venue.”
The Toledo native has been a burlesque performer since 2021, though her performances have been restricted to Detroit because of the lack of demand for the art in our city. It’s been her mission to establish it here.
Worley has performed her routines at venues, like Detroit’s Northern Lights Lounge, Planet Ant and New Dodge Lounge. She has described her acts as fitting into two genres.
“I do a lot of classic, glamorous burlesque, but I do more nerdlesque recently,” she said. Nerdlesque refers to performers dressed as glamorized characters whose routines are filled with comedic tease and suggestion.
Worley’s version had the crowd rolling. Donning a token Guy Fieri flaming button up, wig and mustache, she flaunts on top of a giant, plush cheeseburger to a great track.
“My friend mashed the songs together for me, a hip-hop song called ‘Guy Fieri’ and ‘Cherry Pie,’ of course,” Worley said.
If anyone takes props and costuming seriously, it’s burlesque performers. Worley’s cheeseburger prop made from a large ottoman was lovingly crafted by her and her dad on Father’s Day.
The performers at the Speakeasy were no different.
Gene Morris, whose stage persona, Gina Arnez, dons a sparkling boa, said he wouldn’t call himself a burlesque performer. “I’m more of a female impersonator. When I started, people started telling me I reminded them of Liza Minelli, so I began doing her cabaret numbers.”
Morris is a Collingwood Arts Center advocate and has performed at several of their fundraising events. Although the act’s debut was on the main stage, this was the first performance of Gina’s in the underground theatre. “It was a really well-organized event and a lot of fun. The attendance was the best I’ve seen, the room was packed.”
Gina Arnez, winner of Mrs. Amateur Great Lakes 1999, has been dancing around Toledo for some time.
“I’m originally from Morgantown, West Va. I moved to Toledo in ’94 for a job. I met my current husband, David, when I moved up here, and we’ve been together for 30 years now – married 11. We used to go to Caesar’s Show Bar all the time for a night out and I said well, I’d like to try that. I was 36 at the time and that’s kind of late to start performing, but he encouraged me to do so.
“When I’m on stage a lot of people don’t recognize me. When I’m not presenting as Gina, I’m quiet and reserved. When I’m on stage as Gina, I’m a completely changed person,” he explained.
“Burlesque has a bad reputation; a majority of people associate it with strippers. Yes, but it’s an art form. It’s not for the male gaze – it’s for the female gaze. I don’t make my costumes for the men. I make them for the girls, gays and theys. It’s about rebellion and protest, this is my body and I’m going to show it how I want to.”
The crowds at the Collingwood Arts Center’s Speakeasy event are a testament to the demand of bringing burlesque back to Toledo. Although we may never see another exclusively burlesque venue like Town Hall, venues like the arts center are vital, living hubs for these forms of expression.
Warren Haynes concert at Stranahan raises funds for hurricane relief
TOLEDO – The Warren Haynes band rolled through Toledo as part of their winter tour last month, giving locals an opportunity to not only enjoy the show but contribute to hurricane relief funds.
Asheville, N.C., native Warren Haynes and his band made a stop at the Stranahan Theater, the band’s third stop on the Million Voices Whisper tour 2025. A donation of $1 from each ticket sold went toward the hurricane relief fund in Asheville.
Last November, Warren Haynes performed alongside the Dave Matthews Band at Madison Square Garden, and money from the concert was to be donated to the hurricane relief funds in North Carolina and Florida. The show was sold out, and over $4.5 million was raised.
The MSG show included ticket sales, merchandise and sponsorships, and direct donations all contributed to the relief fund. The winter tour is focused solely on ticket sales as part of the donations to support the cause.
The fans at the Stranahan Theater were very happy to see Haynes perform, and by the end of the show, fans were standing and singing along. Between sets, there were interjections of “We love you, Warren!” which he would acknowledged.
Haynes performed songs from his new album Million Voices Whisper that he released last November, but he also played classics like Tear me Down and Soulshine.
It hasn’t been made public yet how much money was raised for the concert; that will be accounted for once the tour is complete. While the music itself was the driving force behind the crowd’s enjoyment, the love for Haynes’ and the support for his hometown of Asheville through its continued disaster relief efforts was palpable.
BGSU football head coach Scot Loeffler trades a falcon for eagle
On The Flyby Sports Podcast, co-hosts and school rivals Chas McNeil and Max Alfonso dive deep into the longtime rivalry between the Falcons and Rockets in all sports, including stats, scores and predictions.
For this episode, McNeil breaks the news that BGSU football head coach Scot Loeffler departs BGSU after six seasons after leading the Falcons to three straight bowl games. Loeffler will be the quarterback coach for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Main topic is conference shakeups, but they also recap this past week’s sports news and update you on the playing schedule for the coming week.
New episodes of the The Flyby Sports Podcast drop every Saturday (except March 8 – Spring Break)
The Flyby Sports Podcast is a production of the Toledo Free Press.
NEW! Toledo-area Winter Activity Guide
Though there’s warmth on the horizon, winter isn’t over quite yet, so check out our comprehensive winter guide. March is unpredictable, so there’s still hope for snow activities.
Stay tuned for a spring guide that’s currently being developed. Updates will we added as the year progresses, and we’ll have summer and fall guides, too!
Winter Guide
Parks
Metroparks Toledo locations across Northwest Ohio offer a plethora of winter activities, including cross-country skiing, ice skating, sledding, snowshoeing and winter hiking. Oak Openings Preserve’s Cannaley Treehouse Village is open year-round — a unique winter getaway — and Glass City Metropark hosts ice skating and ice bocce at The Ribbon.
419-407-9700 | Hours: 7 a.m. to dark every day
Enjoy sledding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating and winter nature hikes at Maumee Bay State Park. The park also offers indoor lodging and cabins during the winter months.
419-836-7758 | 1400 State Park Rd, Oregon
Maumee State Forest is comprised of 3,332 acres in Fulton, Henry and Lucas counties. Maumee State Forest features a 2-mile self-guided hike/interpretive trail called the Stewardship Trail, 66 miles of unmarked firelanes for hiking, eight miles of bridle trails, eight miles of APV trails, a tree improvement/research and chestnut tree area, and wet-sedge meadow.
3390 County Rd. D, Swanton
Ottawa & Jermain Parks
Ottawa Park is Toledo’s largest regional park. It’s home to Northwest Ohio’s only open-air ice rink, available for ice skating and hockey. Call to check availability and visit the rink’s website for program information and admission fees.
Winter park goers have plenty of options for fun at Ottawa & Jermain Parks — ice skating, hockey, cross-country skiing and three sledding hills of varying size and steepness.
419-885-1167 | 2015 Parkside Dr., Toledo
Toledo Zoo & Aquarium
The Toledo Zoo & Aquarium has a full calendar of activities and events, including their famous annual Lights Before Christmas, in addition to all of their regular exhibits. Check website for membership and ticket information.
419-385-5721 | 2 Hippo Way, Toledo
Toledo Farmers’ Market
Stroll through the Toledo Farmers’ Market to find fresh produce, breads and sweet treats, homemade gifts and more from local vendors.
419-255-6765 | 525 Market St., Toledo | Hours: Saturdays (November-April) 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Sledding
Conneaut Park Sledding Hill
A hotspot in BG for sledding, the hill was once the city’s reservoir system.
Conneaut and Haskins Rd., Bowling Green | 419-354-6223
419-872-8020 | 13761 Eckel Junction Rd., Perrysburg
Visit the new and improved sled hill and enjoy three different slopes.
8601 Brint Rd., Sylvania | Hours: 7:30am-90 minutes before sunset
Northview High School
A fun ride for all ages, the sled hill at Northview High School is long, moderately sloped and lit at night from the school parking lot.
419-824-8570 | 5403 Silica Dr., Sylvania
Harroun Community Park is home to two different sled hills: one steep with grooves and bumps along the way for a thrilling ride, and the other hill, located near the Lathrop House, offers a tamer ride for the little ones.
419-885-8733 | 5500 Main St., Sylvania (at the rear of St. Joseph Church parking lot)
Sledding at Navarre Park is fun for all ages, with a hill that varies in steepness and bumps.
1001 White St., Toledo
Homecoming Hill at Homecoming Park
Homecoming Hill boasts a long and fast ride with its moderate slope.
419-337-0900 | 715 Lawrence Avenue, Wauseon
Please comment with any personal favorites we missed. Send suggestions for all seasonal go-to destinations to editor@toledofreepress.com
