Pubdate: Fri, 18 Sep 2015
Source: Columbus Dispatch (OH)
Copyright: 2015 The Columbus Dispatch
Contact:  http://www.dispatch.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/93
Author: Alan Johnson

CAMPAIGN AD WATCH

'Bring Addy Home,' ResponsibleOhio

Ad: "Bring Addy Home," a 60-second commercial

Producer: ResponsibleOhio

Where it can be seen: First aired during Republican GOP California debate

Video: The ad opens on Heather Benton holding a picture of her 
newborn, Addyson. The scene shifts to Heather and her husband, Adam, 
reading a book to their daughter, now four years old. There is video 
of family photos and a pink helmet worn by Addyson, who has epilepsy. 
Heather tears up when discussing her daughter's seizures, sometimes 
1,000 of them a day.

The family is shown walking in a park and concludes with a smiling 
Addyson dancing and swinging as her mother discusses the reasons for 
the family's move to Colorado from West Chester, Ohio.

Script: "Addyson was born June 16, 2011. I couldn't have even asked 
for anything better. I felt like we were bringing home a healthy 
child. Around nine months old, we started noticing strange behaviors 
with Addyson. At one point, Addyson was having over 1,000 seizures in 
a day. It's hard watching her not understand. It's hard watching her 
have seizures and cry. She's had such a rough time. Is epilepsy going 
to take my daughter from me? Nothing the doctors tried worked."

"So we moved our entire family from Ohio to Colorado to try medical 
marijuana. I knew that there was something out there that was going 
to save my child. These people are helping our child live again. We 
want to move back to Ohio, but we can't because her medicine is 
illegal there. It is time for marijuana reform. It's time to go home."

Analysis: There were two guaranteed subjects for the ResponsibleOhio 
TV ads: crime and medical marijuana. The crime ad aired previously 
and this ad focuses on a family who moved out of state so their ill 
daughter could get medical marijuana treatments.

The ad tells the Benton family's compelling story of how they sought 
help in Ohio for their daughter, Addyson, now 4, who suffered from 
repeated seizures because of epilepsy. Mrs. Benton, who is 
straightforward but emotional, says they went to Colorado in 
desperation, but would like to return home to Ohio.

The major focus of Responsible Ohio's campaign has been on the 
recreational component of marijuana legalization, but the group has 
emphasized the medical part of the issue as well.

Many Ohio officials who don't support full legalization, including 
Attorney General Mike DeWine, have indicated they might go along with 
a limited medical marijuana law. ResponsibleOhio's proposal isn't 
just about medical marijuana and it isn't limited but this ad could 
win some converts.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom