Pubdate: Thu, 26 Feb 2015
Source: Blade, The (Toledo, OH)
Copyright: 2015 The Blade
Contact:  http://www.toledoblade.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/48
Author: Shellie McKnight

DON'T CREATE MARIJUANA CARTEL IN OHIO

Your Feb. 15 editorial "No cartel" is spot on, and Ohio voters should 
pay close attention.

Legalization of marijuana in Ohio for whatever use is inevitable. But 
if ResponsibleOhio's ballot initiative succeeds, Ohio's constitution 
would be amended to establish a monopoly of growers, testers, and distributors.

My first objection when I heard of the proposed 11 investors was: Who 
picked these people, and why them? Why was this opportunity not open 
to any potential investor willing to abide by state regulations?

More objectionable, isn't this initiative the cart before the horse? 
As your editorial points out, wouldn't it make more sense to vote on 
legalizing marijuana use overall - or in increments - before 
establishing specific operating laws, which are likely to change as 
the industry matures?

If this proposal wins, Ohio won't benefit in the long run. All it 
will do is shift large sums of money from illegal dealers to a legal 
state-run cartel.

I am afraid it also will increase the potential illegal cultivation 
of marijuana by individual back-yard and basement growers who resent 
being locked out of fair competition.

SHELLIE McKNIGHT

Whitehouse
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom