#Gov. Mike DeWine

[dontmean2bepoliticalbut]

[cannabisbusinessexecutive]

Ohio House leaves marijuana users in limbo with weed policy

Ohio House lawmakers are puff, puff passing on dealing with marijuana policy until February, leaving marijuana enthusiasts in limbo. Ohio’s new recreational marijuana law is now in effect, allowing adults 21 years of age and older to smoke. Under the law passed by voters, individual Ohioans would also be able to grow up to six plants, but up to 12 per household. Click here to learn more about…

[contemplatingoutlander]

Ohio governor vetoes ban on gender-affirming care for minors

This is a really important development. Gov. DeWine is a Republican, yet he listened to the common sense of advocates FOR quality gender-affirming healthcare for youth. Here are some excerpts from the article:

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine struck down a bill that would have banned gender-affirming care for minors, breaking from fellow Republican governors’ precedent and preserving such care for residents beyond his state as well, because families of transgender youths who live in states with bans have been traveling to Ohio for treatment. [...] “This bill would impact a very small number of Ohio’s children. But for those children who face gender dysphoria, the consequences of this bill could not be more profound. Ultimately I believe this is about protecting human life,” DeWine said Friday during a news conference announcing the decision. “Many parents have told me that their child would not have survived, would be dead today, if they had not received the treatment they received from one of Ohio’s children’s hospitals.” “These are gut-wrenching decisions that should be made by parents and should be informed by teams of doctors who are advising them,” DeWine continued. “Were I to sign House Bill 68, or were House Bill 68 to become law, Ohio would be saying that the state, that the government knows better what is medically best for a child than the two people who love that child the most: The parents.” [...] Hundreds of people testified in hearings on the legislation this year, with 87 people testifying during a state Senate committee hearing in early December that stretched past 11 p.m. A majority of them testified against the bill, and many of those who supported the ban flew in from out of state to testify. [color emphasis added]

A different but related WaPo article is also worth reading.

Her story fueled anti-trans bills. Now, she’s fighting them.

This article is about a detransitioner, Carey Callahan, who at one time opposed gender affirming care for youth but now realizes she was wrong. Callahan and 19 other detransitioners were among the people who testified against the bill and in support of gender-affirming healthcare.

Here is an excerpt from Callahan's testimony:

“The proponents of this bill have not produced a patient who detransitioned or felt regretful about the treatment they received who attended one of our six pediatric programs,” Callahan said. “Quality health care prevents detransition — not a lack of health care. The rigor of Ohio’s six programs prevents detransition, which is why you have not heard of even one detransitioner who received pediatric gender-affirming care in Ohio.” [color emphasis added]

[so-i-did-this-thing]

TRANS OHIOANS - START STOCKPILING YOUR HRT AND PLAN HOW YOU WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE YOUR TRANSITION CARE

Ohio has taken a page out of Florida’s book and is proposing to effectively ban adult transition care via the requirements of numerous specialists - a psychiatrist, endocrinologist, and a bioethicist.

Since most trans people get their HRT from nurse practioners via the informed consent model, this will create undue burden on both trans people and the medical system -- the bottlenecks will effectively ban transition care for adults. This is what has happened in Florida, and Ohio's rules look much more draconian and surveiliance-heavy. All trans healthcare will be reported to the state.

These new rules have not taken effect yet. Trans Ohioans should plan for the worst now.

The rules are open to public comment through 5pm Friday, Jan 19, 2024. The full copy of the rules and how to comment are below:

https://mha.ohio.gov/about-us/rules-and-regulations/rules/draft-rules/gender-transition-care

As a Floridian who saw the writing on the wall and fled his state (my clinic hasn't been allowed to fill HRT prescriptions since May 2023 now) -- do not delay on making preparations. If this is approved, the rules will likely catch everyone by surprise. Start talking with your providers now and plan out your options assuming the ban will take place.

Informed folks to follow on Twitter:

Alejandra

Erin

[wilwheaton]

The two programs under which Haitians fleeing some of the worst political chaos and gang violence in the Western Hemisphere have been OK’d by the Biden administration to remain in the United States as protected refugees are perfectly legal, and if Vance thinks otherwise he should challenge the rulings in court, not by demagoguing it on the campaign trail. There’s considerable evidence that the 20,000 figure that Vance and other right-wingers have claimed is the number of Haitians who’ve moved to Springfield during the President Joe Biden years is a big exaggeration. And even local Republican politicians are calling out Vance’s lies, including a heartfelt essay by GOP Gov. Mike DeWine, who’s from the Springfield area. [...] Three days after the debate, Vance tweeted: “In Springfield, Ohio, there has been a massive rise in communicable diseases, rent prices, car insurance rates, and crime." [...] The claim about a massive rise in communicable disease in Springfield or surrounding Clark County is just a flat-out lie. To the contrary, county officials say 2023 was actually the lowest overall for contagious illnesses in eight years. Vance’s false claim hinges on a yearly rise in two specific diseases — tuberculosis and HIV injections — yet local officials note these numbers are so small they tend to fluctuate from year to year, and there’s no evidence Haitian Americans played any role.

Will Bunch: JD Vance’s new lies about immigrants are worse than ‘eating dogs and cats’

Lies on top of lies, wrapped up in lies.

Because he has no record of his own, and Trump’s record is indefensible.

And they have no plan to help anyone but themselves and a handful of oligarchs. And, of course, Russia. 

We are not going back. Check your voter registration every week between now and your state’s deadline. Make a plan to vote, and vote as early as you can.

The sooner we don’t ever have to hear these clowns again, the better. Let’s do this.

[socialjusticeinamerica]

The Republican governor stated this is a fake story amplified on the internet.

[little-catholic-diva]

Of course they did..

[solradguy]

Holy shit huge news for trans people in Ohio:

Gov. Mike DeWine on Friday [Dec. 29, '23] struck down legislation that would have banned transgender girls from female sports and restricted the medical care of transgender minors. House Bill 68, which cleared the House and Senate earlier this month, would have prevented doctors from prescribing hormones, puberty blockers or gender reassignment surgery before patients turn 18. It also would have prohibited transgender girls and women from playing on female sports teams in high school and college.

DeWine's republican, for anyone that doesn't know. This is insane.

This part is concerning, but with how the Ohio government is threatening Issues 1 and 2 (abortion & weed bills), which passed in November, I'm curious to see how it'll play out:

The bill passed the House and Senate with a supermajority, meaning lawmakers could mobilize enough support to override DeWine's veto.

It's very clear that what Ohioans want doesn't align with what our government keeps trying to give us. There's a shift happening here now, and a huge push for something better. I hope the trend continues and this state can finally get out of this government hellpit it's been stuck in since the early 2000s.

News excerpts from this article: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/gov-dewine-vetoes-house-bill-68-on-transgender-medical-care-sports/ar-AA1mcUic

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Ryan Adamczeski at The Advocate:

An Ohio judge has upheld the state’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth, as well as its ban on trans girls and women in women's sports. Two families of young trans people filed a lawsuit against the state's law in March after Ohio lawmakers passed the legislation in January by overriding Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto. The families argued that the law violates the Ohio Constitution because it deals with more than one subject — sports and health care — which goes against the single-subject rule. While the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas temporarily ruled in favor of the families in April, Franklin County Judge Michael J. Holbrook overturned its decision Tuesday, allowing the state's law to go into effect. Patients under 18 can no longer receive gender-affirming care, save for an exception allowing those already on the treatment to continue.

Holbrook wrote in his ruling that those “dissatisfied with the General Assembly’s determinations" must settle their grievances "through their vote as opposed to the judicial system.” “This is a devastating result for our clients and families like theirs across the state of Ohio," Harper Seldin, senior staff attorney at American Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement. "HB 68’s ban on medical treatments for gender dysphoria remains medically baseless and genuinely dangerous to the current and future well-being of transgender youth in the state. We are particularly appalled the court claims the ‘regulation of transgender individuals’ is a legitimate subject for the legislature under the state constitution."

In Moe v. Yost, Judge Michael Holbrook laws Ohio’s gender-affirming care ban for trans minors and trans women in women’s sports ban combo law (HB68) to take effect.

See Also:

LGBTQ Nation: Ohio judge upholds state ban on gender-affirming care for trans minors

[covid-safer-hotties]

COVID-19 cases jump 2,000, to more than 10,000, as Ohio pushes new vaccine: Coronavirus update for Thursday, Aug. 29

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The number of new COVID-19 cases in Ohio took a large leap this week, from 8,352 last week to 10,418 this week, the state reported Thursday.

This week saw the weekly case number climb over the 10,000-mark for the first time since January. It also was the 13th straight week that the case number has increased, continuing an upward swing that began in early June.

At the same time last year, the state reported just over 7,000 cases.

The best protection against COVID-19 is the updated vaccine for the 2024-2025 season, said Ohio Department of Health director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said in a Thursday news conference.

The updated, one-shot vaccine, which is formulated to be effective against the variants currently in circulation, is available in some Ohio locations, he said. People also can find a vaccine shot at vaccines.gov locator.

“We expect availability to increase as we move into September,” Vanderhoff said.

At least 1,384,882 Ohioans have received the updated one-dose COVID-19 vaccine, an increase of 382 people from the prior week, the state reported. This represents 11.8% of the state’s population.

The total COVID-19 case count since early 2020 in Ohio has reached 3,807,492.

There were 252 Ohioans newly hospitalized in the last week, raising the total since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 to 153,282. Five people were admitted into the ICU, raising the total since 2020 to 15,865.

The state health department reported an additional 32 deaths from COVID-19, raising the total to 44,146. Death reporting sometimes lags by weeks.

COVID-19 tests are still free for people enrolled in Medicaid, Vanderhoff said. The federal government recently announced that it will once again provide free COVID-19 tests, starting in late September. Americans will be able to order up to four tests per household at this link.

“Tests are an important tool, not just so you can protect others, but also in determining whether you might benefit from treatment,” Vanderhoff said.

Gov. Mike DeWine, who announced he had COVID-19 on Aug. 20, Is back to his normal work schedule after treatment with an antiviral medication, Vanderhoff said.

Aug. 29 recap

Total reported cases: 3,807,492, up 10,418.

Total individuals with updated vaccine: 1,384,882, up 382.

Total reported deaths: 44,146 up 32.

Total reported hospitalizations: 153,282, up 252.

Total reported ICU admissions: 15,865, up 5.

Aug. 22 recap

Total reported cases: 3,797,074, up 8,352.

Total individuals with updated vaccine: 1,384,500, up 640.

Total reported deaths: 44,114, up 21.

Total reported hospitalizations: 153,030, up 216.

Total reported ICU admissions: 15,860, up 7.

[libraford]

Fucking make it stop.

[cannabisbusinessexecutive]

Adults can now legally possess and grow marijuana in Ohio — but there's nowhere to buy it

Ohioans woke up Thursday in a land of limbo for recreational marijuana use: Adults can now legally grow and possess cannabis at home, but cannot legally buy it. On Wednesday night, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine urged lawmakers to quickly set parameters for Issue 2, the citizen initiative voters approved in November. While the state Senate pushed through an 11th-hour deal hours before the law took…

[kp777]

Trump, Vance's Haitian smears "need to stop," Ohio Gov. DeWine says

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) told PBS' "News Hour" Tuesday that former President Trump and Sen. JD Vance's (R-Ohio) baseless claims about Haitian migrants "need to stop."