Cincinnati to Use Weed Revenue for Hard-Hit Communities

City Council member proposes using $2.5 million in marijuana tax proceeds to help neighborhoods disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Cincinnati is set to receive $2.5 million in revenue from legal adult-use marijuana sales, and a city council member wants to steer that money into neighborhoods that were hit hardest when cannabis was illegal and arrests were common. The 'Harm to Hope' proposal would create a restricted fund to support initiatives like expunging marijuana convictions, lead paint abatement, and youth and community development programs in areas like Avondale, Bond Hill, and Roselawn.

Why it matters

This proposal aims to address the disproportionate impact the war on drugs had on certain communities in Cincinnati, where Black residents were four times more likely to face criminal charges for cannabis despite similar usage rates. By directing marijuana tax revenue to these neighborhoods, the city has an opportunity to begin repairing the harm caused by past drug enforcement policies.

The details

Council member Mark Jeffreys unveiled the 'Harm to Hope' plan, which would create a restricted fund for the $2.5 million in annual marijuana tax revenue. An advisory committee of city leaders and citizens would recommend how to spend the money, with early priorities including expunging marijuana convictions, accelerating lead paint abatement, and increasing funding for youth and community development programs.

  • Cincinnati is poised to receive the $2.5 million windfall from legal adult-use cannabis sales.
  • Jeffreys plans to take the proposal to the full City Council in the next few weeks.

The players

Mark Jeffreys

A Cincinnati City Council member who unveiled the 'Harm to Hope' proposal to use marijuana tax revenue to help communities disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs.

David Whitehead

The president of the Cincinnati NAACP, who said African American communities have been "disproportionately affected by the war on drugs."

Treva Reid

The executive director of the Urban League's Holloman Center for Social Justice, who oversees an expungement program that could benefit from the additional resources.

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What they’re saying

“We have been disproportionately affected by the war on drugs. Our communities.”

— David Whitehead, Cincinnati NAACP President (local12.com)

“And what we have contributed is a step, is significant, and coupled with the $2.5 million and growing, it will absolutely make a difference in the lives of our community members.”

— Treva Reid, Executive Director, Urban League's Holloman Center for Social Justice (local12.com)

What’s next

Jeffreys intends to take the proposal to the full City Council in the next few weeks. The plan would require an ordinance to create the restricted fund and another to establish the advisory board.

The takeaway

This proposal represents an opportunity for Cincinnati to begin addressing the disproportionate harm caused by the war on drugs in certain communities. By directing marijuana tax revenue to programs that expunge records, address lead paint, and invest in youth and community development, the city can start to repair the damage and make a meaningful difference in the lives of residents most impacted.