Pubdate: Tue, 25 Aug 2015
Source: Inquirer, The (Liberia)
Copyright: 2015 The Inquirer Newspaper
Contact: http://www.theinquirer.com.lr/contact.php
Website: http://www.theinquirer.com.lr
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4906
Author: Jessie Balmett

NEW POT LEGALIZATION AD STARS RETIRED CINCINNATI COP

OLUMBUS - A retired Cincinnati police captain says Ohio's costly ban on 
marijuana is failing in ResponsibleOhio's first statewide advertisement, 
but not all law enforcement officers agree.

"I saw firsthand the effects of Ohio's destructive marijuana laws. 
Simply put, they don't work," said Howard Rahtz, a former captain in CPD 
and member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, in a 30-second 
advertisement airing across Ohio over the next two weeks.

Rahtz says marijuana enforcement costs Ohio more than $100 million each 
year, citing a 2010 number from an American Civil Liberties Union report.

But Bob Cornwell, executive director of the Buckeye State Sheriffs' 
Association, said any cost savings would be offset by drug treatment. 
Legalizing marijuana would lead to more impaired driving and confusing 
workplaces where drug testing employees would be chaotic, he added. The 
group's 19-member board, which represents Ohio's 88 sheriffs, voted 
unanimously to oppose ResponsibleOhio's proposal.

The proposal would create 10 commercial pot farms in specific locations 
across Ohio and allow residents to grow up to four flowering plants for 
their own use. The change, called Issue 3, will be on the November 
ballot along with a proposal from lawmakers to ban economic monopolies 
in the state constitution. If both pass, a lawsuit is likely.

ResponsibleOhio and Ohioans Against Marijuana Monopolies both launched 
their campaigns to win over voters in earnest last week. ResponsibleOhio 
officials say they have raised $20 million to spread their message. The 
coalition of school board members, police officers, lawmakers and 
farmers who oppose them say they don't have enough money for advertisements.

ResponsibleOhio spent at least $240,000 in advertising at stations, 
including ones in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Youngstown 
and Mansfield, according to Federal Communications Commission records. 
ResponsibleOhio spokeswoman Faith Oltman declined to comment on how much 
the PAC spent to create the ad.

The ad, which shows no marijuana, focuses on Rahtz speaking in front of 
a cruiser with flashing police lights.

Cornwell said he doesn't like that ResponsibleOhio used a police officer 
to advertise legalizing marijuana when so many oppose the proposal.

"I find it appalling myself," he said.
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