Pubdate: Sun, 15 Feb 2015
Source: Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Copyright: 2015 Morning Journal
Contact:  http://www.morningjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3569

MORE RESEARCH NEEDED BEFORE FINAL DECISION ON MARIJUANA ISSUE IS MADE

A great deal of debate and conversation is needed about whether the 
city of Lorain is a good fit for a marijuana growing or processing facility.

Last week, ResponsibleOhio, a political action committee, released 
its draft language for a constitutional amendment that would legalize 
marijuana for medicinal and recreational use in Ohio. The amendment 
language includes the nearly 77 acres in Lorain's Riverbend Commerce 
Park off Colorado Avenue. The committee also identified nine other Ohio sites.

The language says it wants to provide for the legalization of the use 
of medical marijuana by patients with debilitating medical conditions 
as directed by physicians. It also would legalize marijuana for 
personal use for Ohioans age 21 or older and rules for establishing 
marijuana product manufacturing facilities, retail marijuana stores 
and an Ohio Marijuana Control Commission.

Group leaders plan to collect signatures with the hope of putting the 
issue to a statewide vote Nov. 3.

Several points of the proposal piqued our interests, including the 
creating of well-paid jobs - with the construction of the indoor 
facility and then with hundreds of people working in that green 
industry, no pun intended.

Secondly, the taxes generated from this enterprise could assist City 
Hall with putting idle land to use, the improvement of roads, 
flooding issues and the downtown Lorain entertainment district. 
Municipalities are receiving less funds from the state, so this could 
be a boost. A win-win situation, right? ResponsibleOhio did release a 
few details about the growth and processing facilities.

Lydia Bolander, spokeswoman for ResponsibleOhio, said a growth 
facility would not be an open-air farm where marijuana plants grow 
like rows of corn and soybeans in Ohio farm fields. It would be more 
like a warehouse under tight security. This is good to hear. We're 
pleased that some Lorain city councilmen have chimed in on the issue.

After the proposed sites went public Feb. 9, Councilman-at-large Dan 
Given said he was not aware a potential buyer was eyeing the Lorain 
land for a marijuana farm. He said council was told it was going to 
be a clean-type of manufacturing facility, and a marijuana growing 
facility is that type of facility. He added he did not think any 
councilmen envisioned this type of operation because marijuana is not 
legal in Ohio now. Given makes a good point: Do we want this in the 
state of Ohio? We don't know.

We agree with the councilman that the issue is picking up steam and 
everyone needs to get educated on it.

Ward 4 Councilman Greg Argenti believes council must have an open 
mind about the issue.

Said Argenti: "Marijuana is already in use through out Lorain and 
elsewhere. There are potential positives to the legalization of 
marijuana. Done correctly by applying very strict controls over the 
growth, manufacturing and distribution of the product, we might 
actually make its use safer than it is now."

We believe this is another valid point. Law enforcement could focus 
their attention to more dangerous and addictive drugs, such as 
cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine.

Lorain Mayor Chase Ritenauer said he still needs to study the issue 
in depth and will not endorse or condemn it. He indicated he sees 
potential benefits of medical use of marijuana. As for recreational 
use, Ritenauer noted other social issues such as alcohol sales and 
gambling also are regulated and taxed. ResponsibleOhio argues the 
state's drug enforcement for marijuana has failed. The group says 
Ohio spends $120 million a year to enforce failed marijuana laws 
which has led to ruining people's lives and wasting money that should 
be spent on fighting hard narcotics.

We believe this is an exciting experience for residents to get 
involved in to voice opinions and concerns. We're not supporting or 
denouncing an amendment change. But we must educate ourselves before 
we sign any petition or cast a ballot on this issue.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom