Pubdate: Wed, 28 Oct 2015
Source: Dayton Daily News (OH)
Copyright: 2015 Dayton Daily News
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/7JXk4H3l
Website: http://www.daytondailynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/120
Authors: Bob and Hope Taft

CONCERNS ABOUT LEGALIZED MARIJUANA

Children and Edible Marijuana

We urge Ohioans to vote "No" on State Issue 3, which would grant 
monopoly rights for the production and sale of marijuana for 
recreational and medicinal purposes in Ohio. It is the worst public 
policy proposal we have seen in more than 30 years of public service 
and leadership in drug abuse prevention in our state.

Most alarming about Issue 3 is the threat to our children and youth. 
It legalizes the sale of marijuana-infused products like cookies, 
brownies and gummy bears which are inviting to children and have led 
to severe problems in those states which allow recreational 
marijuana. According to Children's Hospital Colorado, admissions of 
children under the age of 12 who ingested edible marijuana spiked 
sharply in 2014; use by youth ages 12 to 17 in Colorado ranks 56 
percent higher than the national average, according to law enforcement reports.

Adults have also been adversely affected. Dr. Richard Zane of 
University Hospital in Denver reports admissions of a person a day 
for marijuana-related problems, mostly due to edibles. 
Hallucinations, psychotic behavior and uncontrolled vomiting are 
recurring symptoms. Three deaths in Colorado have been linked to 
edibles, and since the retail sale of marijuana began, there has been 
a 38 percent increase in the number of marijuana-related hospital admissions.

Issue 3 will take away the rights of Ohio citizens to seek 
legislative remedies for the problems legalized marijuana will 
certainly cause, as it has in Colorado where public support is 
declining. It locks into our Constitution both a monopoly on 
production and preferential tax rates - beyond the reach of Ohio 
lawmakers. Amending the Ohio Constitution to fix Issue 3 will be 
difficult, costly and time-consuming.

We pray Ohio will not be the first state to approve all at once the 
full legalization of a poorly tested and potentially dangerous 
product. Vote "No" on Issue 3.

Bob and Hope Taft

BOB TAFT, GOVERNOR OF OHIO (1999-2007); HOPE TAFT, FOUNDER OF 
CITIZENS AGAINST SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND OHIO DRUG FREE ACTION ALLIANCE.
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