Pubdate: Sun, 06 Mar 2016
Source: News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Copyright: 2016 The News-Herald
Contact:  http://www.news-herald.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/305

PUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA PLAN ON BALLOT

For the second time in two years, Ohio voters might see an issue on 
the November ballot to legalize marijuana under limited circumstances.

Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project is proposing an 
amendment to Ohio's constitution that would allow for medical use of 
marijuana by qualifying patients with debilitating medical 
conditions. The amendment also would permit the licensed and 
regulated cultivation, manufacturing, testing, distribution and 
dispensing of marijuana for medical use.

The group said its proposal is based on the medical marijuana laws 
that have been passed in 23 other states and Washington, D.C. MPP is 
aiming to put the issue in front of Ohio voters in the November 
election. In order to do so, the group needs to collect 305,591 
signatures by July 6.

If MPP's issue qualifies for the November ballot, one has to wonder 
if this initiative will be more acceptable to Ohio voters than last 
year's Issue 3, a proposed charter amendment that would have 
legalized marijuana for both medical and recreational purposes. That 
proposal was voted down overwhelmingly by voters statewide last November.

After comparing both initiatives, we believe MPP's proposal deserves 
to be on the ballot.

First, MPP's initiative would only allow the use of marijuana for 
medical purposes. Unlike Issue 3, marijuana for recreational purposes 
is not included.

Qualifying medical conditions in the MPP proposal include cancer, 
AIDS, multiple sclerosis, severe pain and post-traumatic stress 
disorder, among others. The group said residents would be allowed to 
petition the state government to add conditions to the list.

MPP estimates that there will be about 215,000 medical marijuana ID 
cardholders in Ohio. The group based that projection on the 2.4 
percent of adults with medical marijuana IDs in neighboring Michigan.

Recreational use of marijuana, on the other hand, is far more 
controversial a subject. Proponents and opponents are both quick to 
cite studies and surveys that they say prove their point that 
recreational use of marijuana is either harmful or harmless.

The group has come up with a well-organized thoughtful proposal that 
we believe deserves consideration. However, because it's such a 
polarizing subject, we suspect there are probably enough Ohio voters 
who object to the use of recreational marijuana to ensure that any 
ballot question similar to Issue 3 would fail again.

MPP's proposal also includes a fairer system for selecting growers of 
the marijuana to be dispensed.

Issue 3, the Ohio Marijuana Legalization Initiative, was a citizen- 
driven initiative championed by an advocacy group called 
ResponsibleOhio. The initiative that appeared on the Nov. 3, 2015, 
statewide ballot conferred on 10 ResponsibleOhio investors exclusive 
rights to commercially grow marijuana plants while establishing the 
administrative infrastructure for recreational marijuana sales in Ohio.

Those pre-determined growing sites were among the list of criticisms 
levied against Issue 3.

MPP's proposal, on the other hand, requires people to apply for the 
licenses to grow marijuana and be approved by the state government.

The initiative allows for five types of business licenses. An 
unlimited number of smaller growers is permitted, but "large grow 
licenses" are capped at 15. Large cultivators can grow in an area no 
more than 25,000 square feet. Medium-sized cultivators can grow in an 
area no more than 5,000 feet. Rights to grow on the large-scale sites 
will cost $500,000.

In addition, patients with a medical marijuana ID card would be 
allowed to grow up to six plants without needing to obtain a special 
license or pay taxes on the marijuana. A caregiver also would be 
allowed to grow medical marijuana plants for the patient.

Although medical marijuana legislation from Ohio lawmakers is 
possible within the next few months, MPP Executive Director Rob 
Kampia said the group is not willing to wait to see how that plays 
out, especially when petition signatures need to be submitted by early July.

We praise the Marijuana Policy Project for tr ying to address the 
urgent needs of Ohio residents whose pain or suffering from illnesses 
could be decreased by legalizing medical marijuana. The group has 
come up with a well-organized, thoughtful proposal that we believe 
deserves consideration.

Here's hoping that the group gathers enough valid signatures to place 
the initiative on the November ballot, giving Ohio voters the final say.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom