DAYTON – With references to Ohio’s legalization of cannabis and the prevalence of social media in the lives of children, Gov. Mike DeWine Thursday toured the Dayton Children’s Hospital Mathile Center for Mental Health and Wellness.

DeWine said the opening of the $110 million center shows that Ohio is a “state that is a leader in mental health.”

“Dayton Children’s has really stepped up,” the governor said.

Gov. Mike DeWine

During the tour, DeWine expressed his dismay at the increase in juvenile cases across the state related to cannabis since its legalization in 2023.

According to Dr. Kelly Blankenship, Dayton Children’s associate chief medical officer, when the hospital first opened its mental health unit in 2019, there would be maybe one patient experiencing psychosis in the unit at

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