Ohio voters have an opportunity to legalize marijuana for recreational and medicinal use, while licensing its commercial sale on a statewide basis. They also will decide whether commercial monopolies should be denied a place in the state constitution. And should they pass both issues on the November ballot, one will nullify the other. That's the story on Issue 2, which deals with commercial monopolies, among other things, and Issue 3, the controversial initiative that would legalize marijuana. If Issue 2 passes, the marijuana issue cannot be implemented even if it, too, receives a mandate. [continues 404 words]
DELPHOS - While unabashedly critical of Issue 3, an Optimist Club-sponsored presentation on Ohio's marijuana legalization initiative gave attendees on both sides of the proposal a little something to put in their pipes and smoke. Held at the Top Chalet, the evening's featured speaker was Roger Geiger, vice president and Ohio executive director of the National Federation of Independent Business. In introducing Geiger, Optimist Club President Kevin Wieging said, "Our purpose here tonight as an Optimists Club is to present the information. We're not persuading or telling anyone how to vote; we just want the facts out there. A lot of times you read on Facebook or see in the media things that are not entirely true." [continues 599 words]
Voters also pass a constitutional amendment that changes how state legislative districts are redrawn Ohio voters rejected a ballot measure Tuesday legalizing marijuana for recreational and medical uses, dealing a blow to pot industry investors looking to build on a series of ballot victories across the country. With 80% of precincts reporting, the measure trailed 65% to 35%, according to the Associated Press. On Tuesday'=C2=80=C2=99s ballot was a second constitutional amendment mak ing it illegal to use the state ballot measure process to establish a monopoly. That measure was leading 53% to 48% with 80% of precincts reporting. State officials had said the two measures would have been in conflict because the marijuana amendment gives exclusive rights to grow the drug to a small group of investors. [continues 324 words]
Yes on Issue 1 We strongly support Issue 1 on the Ohio ballot this Tuesday. It sets up a much fairer process for drawing district lines for Ohio House of Representative and Senate seats. Under the current corrupt system, maps for state legislative and congressional districts are redrawn every 10 years, after updated Census numbers are released. A five-member state Apportionment Board, whose members include the governor, secretary of state, state auditor and a legislator from each major party, draws the legislative districts. A simple majority wins any vote on the board, so the party that controls the board (Republican in recent years) has absolute control over how the legislative lines are drawn. [continues 1267 words]
A closer look at the economic forces driving ResponsibleOhio's controversial plan to establish 10 wholesale marijuana growers in the state-and some of the plan's potential consequences Ohioans have heard a whole lot about pot this year. In August, ResponsibleOhio gathered enough signatures to put a constitutional amendment on the fall ballot that would legalize both medical and recreational marijuana use. The ResponsibleOhio plan-also known as Issue 3-began attracting controversy long before the coming Nov. 3 vote, sparking heated debate over issues that typically surround marijuana legalization, including how it would impact public health and safety and concern over easier access for minors. But the section of ResponsibleOhio's proposed amendment that's attracted the most controversy centers not on how marijuana would be consumed, but how it would be grown. [continues 1156 words]
If State Issue 3 were just about allowing the medical use of marijuana in Ohio, we could entertain a discussion about its benefits - but it would allow recreational use of the addictive version of the drug, as well. If State Issue 3 didn't create a monopoly for a small number of growers that would benefit tremendously financially, we could have a serious discussion about whether marijuana should be illegal at all - but it does. And if State Issue 3 wasn't using the Ohio constitution to establish a law best left to the state legislature, we could have a fair conversation about the best way to legalize the drug, or have an honest discussion about whether the drug is really dangerous, or really serves as a gateway to harder drugs. But it does use the constitution, which should never be used for such minutiae as which substances are legal, anyway. (Nor should it be used to decide the issue of casino gambling, but that fight, sadly, has already been lost.) [continues 299 words]
COLUMBUS -- Gov. John Kasich said he has voted against state Issue 3 and voiced concern about the impact the marijuana legalization amendment could have on efforts to combat drug abuse. "I just think it sends the wrong message," he said. "When you run around telling kids not to do drugs, young kids, and then they read that we might legalize marijuana, I just think it's a mixed message. It's not good." Backers of Issue 3, however, said the proposal to legalize and regulate marijuana in Ohio would actually help the state in its efforts to counter opioid addiction. [continues 412 words]
Many races, issues to be decided today. Statewide issues and local races on the ballot are expected to draw thousands of voters in Clark and Champaign counties to the polls Tuesday. More than 4,400 voters in Clark County and more than 1,400 voters in Champaign County have cast absentee ballots since early voting began Oct. 6, board of elections officials said Monday. Clark County Board of Elections Director Matthew Tlachac projects that less than 50 percent of Clark County's more than 85,700 registered voters will cast ballots Tuesday. But that percentage could be impacted by expected high interest in the statewide marijuana issues. [continues 342 words]
2nd Statewide Ballot Question Could Nullify Yes Vote for Cannabis COLUMBUS - Two issues on this week's ballot stand alone, but the fate of one may depend on the other. Ohio is about to make a historic decision on Issue 3. Should the state become the first east of Colorado to legalize marijuana for recreational, medical, and commercial purposes? But state voters also have a decision to make on Issue 2. Should private individuals have the right to etch their own commercial monopolies into the Ohio Constitution? [continues 619 words]
Dear Editor, Contrary to what television ads may claim, local law enforcement resources and funds are not spent tracking down marijuana smokers. Our drug enforcement efforts focus on other drugs of abuse, such as prescription drugs, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine. Our local jail is not full of people caught in possession of a small amount of marijuana. In fact, there are very few people incarcerated in Ohio for a primary offense relating to possession of marijuana. Supporters of Issue 3 will have you believe that marijuana is a harmless drug and should be legalized and regulated, much the same way as alcohol. They believe that as long as marijuana is used responsibly it should be OK. This belief relies on an incredibly dangerous assumption that marijuana will be used responsibly. Simple observation will tell you that alcohol is not used responsibly. Every year, as a result of alcohol use, deputies from this office respond to numerous domestic violence incidents. [continues 403 words]
Claims About Registration Forms Sent to Prosecutor. Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted Friday sent details about potential voter registration fraud by ResponsibleOhio to the Delaware County prosecutor for possible legal action. Husted said in a letter to Delaware County Prosecutor Carol O'Brien that voter registration forms submitted by The Strategy Network, the company owned by Ian James, executive director of ResponsibleOhio, appear to include "potential violations of election laws." The action resulted from an independent inquiry started by the Delaware County Board of Elections of "petition and voter registration irregularities" in ResponsibleOhio's signature-gathering campaign to get the marijuana legalization amendment on the fall ballot. Voters will decide State Issue 3 on Tuesday. [continues 152 words]
The television commercials, direct-mail ads, endorsements and debates are over: It's time to decide whether marijuana will be legal in Ohio. Eyes across the country will be on the Buckeye State on Tuesday to see what voters decide on State Issue 3, the for-profit constitutional amendment to legalize marijuana in smokable and edible form for recreational use for those 18 or older, and for patients of any age with qualifying medical conditions. The warring campaigns - ResponsibleOhio and Ohioans Against Marijuana Monopolies - are as different as you can imagine. [continues 755 words]
COLUMBUS, Ohio - As a member of the International Cannabinoid Research Society, a collector of antique marijuana apothecary jars, the founder of an industrial hemp business and "a pot smoker consistently for 47 years," Don Wirtshafter, an Ohio lawyer, has fought for decades to make marijuana legal, calling it "my life's work." But when Ohio voters go to the polls Tuesday to consider a constitutional amendment to allow marijuana for both medical and personal use, Mr. Wirtshafter will vote against it. [continues 1193 words]
To the Editor: Issue 3 should be passed in the state of Ohio because marijuana arrests distract police from real issues such as heroin users or gun violence. Fifty-two percent of all drug arrests in 2010 were for marijuana use. With marijuana currently being illegal, it is still widely used for medical and recreational uses. The fact that it is illegal does not stop a majority of users. Making it legal will help medical users obtain it more easily and not have to pay a high price. Yes, with the legalization of weed it will be easier for recreational users to get their hands on it, but that may not be as bad as people think. [continues 167 words]
COLUMBUS, Ohio - As a member of the International Cannabinoid Research Society, a collector of antique marijuana apothecary jars, the founder of an industrial hemp business and "a pot smoker consistently for 47 years," Don Wirtshafter, an Ohio lawyer, has fought for decades to make marijuana legal, calling it "my life's work." But when Ohio voters go to the polls Tuesday to consider a constitutional amendment to allow marijuana for both medical and personal use, Wirtshafter will vote against it. Issue 3, as the proposed amendment is known, is bankrolled by wealthy investors spending nearly $25 million to put it on the ballot and sell it to voters. If it passes, they would have exclusive rights to growing commercial marijuana in Ohio. [continues 1049 words]
Pop Singer and Select Ohioans Will See Green If Initiative Passes Two things you probably haven't been paying a lot of a attention to lately: Election Day in Ohio. (It's not 2016 yet.) Former boy-band star a and reality TV spouse Nick L Lachey. (It's not 2003 anymore.) m Well, settle in, be because you have some catching up to do. On Tuesday, Ohio residents go to the polls to decide whether marijuana should be legal. If they vote yes, the Cincinnati native and long-ago leading man of "Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica" will automatically become one of the top weed kingpins of the Buckeye State. [continues 1226 words]
Deep-pocketed investors in an Ohio marijuana legalization campaign this fall have been the focus of debate over Tuesday's Issue 3. Roughly two dozen known individuals - and an indeterminate number of others - will have exclusive rights to 10 initial growing sites located across the state. Among them are an Olympic gold medalist, a former boy band star, a fashion designer and the descendant of a president. The pro-legalization ResponsibleOhio campaign has argued it was necessary to provide investors a monetary guarantee in order to raise the cash needed to mount an expensive statewide ballot campaign. Opponents say the arrangement amounts to an economic monopoly designed for personal gain. State legislators placed a proposal banning monopolies from Ohio's constitution on Tuesday's ballot that's intended to nullify marijuana legalization if passed. [end]
Tactics for Opponents, Supporters Differ Greatly in Campaign for Marijuana Legalization Columbus - One side is spending money, the other side - for the most part - isn't. One side has the backing of some 100 organizations, while the other side boasts the star power of people like former boy band singer Nick Lachey. One side is banking on a strong turnout of young people while the other side hopes it can sway voters with warnings of the potential harm done to young people. [continues 1080 words]
As a local pediatrician, I feel I must weigh in on the legalization of marijuana. Ohio, please don't do it. Medicinal purposes are one thing, but the current issue legalizes recreational use. The bottom line is this: we know that regular marijuana use under the age of 26 lowers the IQ and that marijuana is a gateway drug. Another thing, just because you can tax something doesn't mean you should legalize it. Charles Kelly, M.D., Lakeside Park [end]
Marijuana use for medical purposes should be legal, but use of it for recreational purposes should not ("Ohio's marijuana question: Science still unclear on possible perils of prolonged pot use; Federal regulations impede research," Oct. 25). Some studies of children born to parents who used marijuana during the mother's pregnancy have shown that the permanent effects of marijuana include negatively impacted cognition and memory skills throughout the life of the child. Secondhand smoke from marijuana, as with tobacco, impairs blood vessel function. That is unfair to people who do not smoke marijuana but may be exposed to it. [continues 115 words]
Why is marijuana the only way for some people to have fun? Are there not enough problems from alcohol abuse and the existing use of drugs? Will there now be the need for additional rehabilitation centers? If marijuana is warranted for medical reasons, then allow physicians to write a prescription. People should vote no on Issue 3. Fremont [end]
The contradiction of Issue 3 is that ResponsibleOhio will not be responsible for anything but the profit. The taxpayers and the state of Ohio will be the ones who would be responsible for compliance with this outrageous constitutional amendment. ResponsibleOhio claims that there have not been known deaths from marijuana overdose, but it does not address the many deaths from marijuana use. These deaths resulted from activities that the deceased participated in while under the influence of this mind-altering substance and deaths when marijuana use led to the use of other narcotics. [continues 287 words]
The intense debate over State Issue 3, the marijuana-legalization amendment, has overshadowed State Issue 2, which aims to block monopoly interests from carving out a niche in the Ohio Constitution. A constitutional lawyer says the Issue 2 "cure" could be worse than the "disease" if Ohioans approve the measure in Tuesday's election. Maurice Thompson, executive director of the 1851 Center for Constitutional Law, a conservative, nonprofit legal center, said Issue 2 would hamper future citizen-driven ballot initiatives, including those seeking tax reforms. [continues 408 words]
I wanted to enlighten many to the untold consequences of pot legalization that I have seen first hand at work. Moral issues aside, the legalization of pot in many states has led to an explosion (both literally and figuratively) of fire losses. In those states that have legalized pot, there is no way to prevent "legal" pot from being used to make butane hash oil (BTO). You just simply blast your "legal" pot with butane (lighter fluid), cook the left off over THC/lighter fluid mix (what could go wrong there), and smoke, eat or otherwise consume the dark sludge which is a much better high. I have been involved in 8 figure losses due to butane hash explosions and I would prefer not to handle those types of claims in Ohio too. Luckily, since I'm just a property claim's guy, I will just have to handle the property damage claim, not the fatality claims. Josh Schaad, Blue Ash [end]
To the Editor: This is a plea for a rational and compassionate perspective on the issue of medical marijuana. I must be honest. It is personal for me as I suffer from multiple sclerosis. The opinions expressed here, however, were formed long before it became a personal issue. My objectivity has not changed, but my compassion has deepened. Many years after Congress passed laws criminalizing the use of any marijuana, it once again is recognized as a legitimate medicine. To continue to argue that marijuana has no known medical use is an erroneous argument. The May 25 issue of TIME and the June 15 issue of National Geographic, for example, cite some of the research establishing the medical usefulness of marijuana and the hopes researchers have for it. [continues 415 words]
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. [continues 195 words]
COLUMBUS (AP) - The group representing NAACP branches in Ohio is urging voters to oppose a proposal on next week's ballot to legalize marijuana for medical and personal use. The Ohio Conference NAACP president said Tuesday that legalization would represent "tacit approval" of a drug with potentially far-reaching negative effects on families and children. The proposed constitutional amendment, Issue 3, would let adults 21 and older buy marijuana and grow four plants. It creates a network of 10 authorized growing locations that are targeted in a separate ballot measure prohibiting constitutional monopolies. Tuesday's announcement marks a split among Ohio's top black leadership. Issue 3 was endorsed by George Forbes, former president of the city council and NAACP in Cleveland. He says blacks have been disproportionately affected by a failed war on drugs. [end]
Editor: I receive several publications from both conservatives and liberals. They tell it like it really is. They tell what the government, states and T.V. news, radio news, and printed news don't want the public to know. Things like states that have legalized marijuana have had a rise in crime by three to five (3 to 5) times higher. Why the rise in crime? The high price of marijuana for whatever purpose of use is beyond the means of the buyers. The drug addicts or anyone else wanting their fixes (so to speak), can't afford it. So to get their fixes they turn to crime, robberies, break-in of homes and businesses alike, even people on the streets to get money for their marijuana. [continues 220 words]
Wake up, Ohio voters! Issue 3 is not about legalization of medicinal marijuana. It is snake oil being sold to the public as the legalization of medicinal marijuana. The collateral damage of Issue 3 is a few rich people get richer and our kids, schools, businesses and communities pay the price. I will go out on a limb and say that the majority of Ohio voters want medicinal marijuana legalized as it is in 23 other states and Washington, D.C. Why not let our lawmakers and medical professionals draft a bill that accomplishes this task all while not amending our state's constitution to protect private business interests? David Denoyer, Kenwood [end]
Your Oct. 14 article "DeWine, others urge defeat of Issue 3" said that Colorado officials joined Lucas County and Ohio officials in warning people of the problems that will come from passage of the marijuana-legalization issue. Voters should ask themselves whether they want people who are high driving on our roads, working in our factories, teaching our children, or providing us with medical care. Many area businesses and industries routinely test job applicants for drugs, including marijuana. Do Lucas County and Ohio need more unemployed people? People should think about this very hard when they vote on Nov. 3. Sylvania [end]
I am encouraged by The Blade's stand on Issue 3 and by your articles explaining the details of the possible pitfalls if Ohio voters approve the legalizing-marijuana issue ("Yes on Issue 2, No on 3," editorial, Oct. 11). The issue has been crammed down our throats by ResponsibleOhio, which is a misnomer. Many responsible people agree that there are numerous reasons to question the wisdom of rushing into the unknown territory of long-term effects of marijuana use. Unfortunately, the inclusion of legalizing medical marijuana will draw yes votes from those who do not see or care about the whole picture. That too is part of the scheme of ResponsibleOhio. I favor and hope for a bill legalizing medical marijuana as a separate issue. It should have been done that way in the first place. If this controversial issue is passed, there is no turning back. Voters should not let Ohio go to pot. Meadowwood Drive [end]
I am disturbed about the support some people express for legalizing marijuana, saying it would create jobs and help the economy and people's health. I was director of student activities at the University of Toledo from 1967 to 1976, when the use of marijuana hit campus. The negative effects of marijuana use were noticeable. A fraternity in one year went from 105 members to five, because many dropped out of school, grades were negatively affected, and what was normally a part of motivation to do well and get a degree went by the wayside. Maumee [end]
When I hear about all the problems making marijuana legal would cause, I remember hearing the same refrain about casinos. Instead of problems, casinos have brought jobs and tax revenue to Ohio. Could legalizing marijuana do the same? Maumee [end]
Why are people bothered that Issue 3 might create a monopoly? Why do people have no problem letting the money generated from the sale of marijuana go to drug cartels in other countries, but are concerned about legalizing marijuana and keeping the revenue in Ohio - even if it is a monopoly? La Jolla Drive [end]
Powered by a small core of big-money investors, marijuana-legalization advocates outraised opponents 16-to-1 in the last campaign-finance reports filed before Election Day, Nov. 3. ResponsibleOhio, the group backing state Issue 3, the marijuana-legalization amendment, reported having spent $15.4 million on the campaign, $12 million of that in the past three months. The group has been waging an all-out campaign dominated by 30-second television commercials and directmail advertising. A report filed on Thursday with Secretary of State Jon Husted showed ResponsibleOhio receiving more than $11.9 million from July 1 to the Oct. 14 cutoff and spending about the same amount. [continues 610 words]
The writer of the letter to the editor on marijuana leading to cocaine and heroin abuse is woefully misinformed ("Marijuana leads to cocaine, heroin abuse" Oct. 29). Marijuana is no more a gateway drug than alcohol, and alcohol is readily available on every other corner. Often people argue against marijuana legalization by saying that people who use heroin started with marijuana. This is backwards thinking, as the question they should ask is how many people who have smoked marijuana have moved onto heroin. It is a negligible percentage. Rather, the measure of whether people will start abusing heroin is whether or not they have abused legally-or illegally-obtained prescription opiate pills. [continues 89 words]
Issue 3 to Benefit Sick, Shut Down Ohio Drug Dealers. Now is the time to legalize marijuana in Ohio. According to a Quinnipiac poll conducted earlier this month, the majority of Ohioans support legalization. Ninety percent of Ohioans support the legalization of medical marijuana and 53 percent of Ohioans support legalizing marijuana for adult, personal use. Despite such positive public opinion, our state lawmakers have continuously failed to act on marijuana reform for the past 18 years. Since 1997, there has been legislation at the Statehouse to address medical marijuana for the chronically ill. And even as people continue to suffer and 9 out of 10 of us agree on providing compassionate care to sick Ohioans, lawmakers refuse to act. [continues 676 words]
Issue 3 to Hinder Law Enforcement, Ohio Employers. Few proposed constitutional amendments have been more at odds with common-sense public policy than Issue 3. Its problems are varied, but Issue 3 starts by putting Ohio law in direct conflict with federal law, creating a legal quagmire on multiple fronts. Issue 3 would create problems for Ohio peace officers, who sign an oath to support state and federal laws. If it were to pass, marijuana would be legal in Ohio but illegal under federal law. That's the quandary they would face. [continues 655 words]
More than 300 people showed up for a public forum on Issue 3 recently conducted by Cox Media Group Ohio and the League of Women Voters at Sinclair Community College. Here are some of the questions from the audience, answered by our Statehouse reporter Laura Bischoff Q: Will the cost of marijuana be determined and will it be as cheap as it is in the street now? How much of the cost will be decided by the government? A: The market will determine the retail cost of legal marijuana. Legal manufacturers and product makers will pay a 15 percent flat tax and retailers will pay a five percent tax, plus other applicable business taxes. As a result, black market prices may still undercut the legal market prices. But buyers may be willing to pay a slightly higher price to know that it's legal and the product has been tested for safety, quality and potency. [continues 914 words]
This is a plea for a rational and compassionate perspective on the issue of medical marijuana. I must be honest. It is personal for me as I suffer from multiple sclerosis. The opinions expressed here, however, were formed long before it became a personal issue. My objectivity has not changed, but my compassion has deepened. The medicinal qualities of marijuana were recognized as far back as 2737 B.C. In fact, from 1850 to 1937, marijuana was legally and readily available as a medicine for a wide range of maladies in the US. [continues 824 words]
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine came to Cleveland Thursday to speak out against Issue 3, which would legalize recreational and medical marijuana use in the state. DeWine, who made a recent trip to Colorado to learn about what marijuana legalization has done to that state, spoke at the Greater Cleveland Partnership headquarters on Huron Road in downtown Cleveland. With him were the Partnership's CEO Joe Roman and Shaker Heights Police Chief Scott Lee. DeWine said he took a three-day "fact-finding trip" trip to Colorado to speak with government and law enforcement officials there. The attorney general said the overall message he took away was, "Don't do what Colorado has done." [continues 285 words]
Backers of Legalized Pot: Villains Would Be Out of Business. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said his three-day trip to Colorado to learn about marijuana legalization there has him worried about what legalization could mean for Ohio and its children. DeWine, who was in Dayton on Tuesday, said he visited with law enforcement, doctors and citizens in Colorado. "People I talked to said, 'Don't make the same mistake that we made in Colorado,'" said DeWine, who is opposed to Issue 3, a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would legalize marijuana for people 21 and older. [continues 273 words]
Sam Quinones says it took a crumbling community to feed the heroin problem and it will take a thriving community to beat it. The message from Quinones, an author and former journalist, at the Columbus Metropolitan Club on Tuesday underlined a painful lesson playing out every day around Ohio. Heroin kills, destroys lives, rips apart families and undermines community. "Heroin's natural habitat is struggling areas," he said. "The destruction of community paved the way for this. It happens when we isolate and fragment." [continues 324 words]
Questions, Gray Areas Worry Some With 23 days left for Ohio voters to make up their minds on legalizing marijuana, there are a lot of complicated issues to consider. State Issue 3 on the ballot Nov. 3 would amend the Ohio Constitution to allow adults 21 and older to possess an ounce of marijuana and get a permit to grow four flowering plants and keep 8 ounces of homegrown pot. It also would allow anyone of any age to use marijuana for medical reasons - with a certificate from a licensed Ohio physician. [continues 1326 words]
If voters across Ohio next month approve a proposal to ease criminal sanctions on marijuana, the law's changes would fall short of a recently enacted and legally challenged Toledo ordinance. The amendment to the Ohio Constitution would allow a resident of at least 21 years old to possess up to an ounce of marijuana for recreational use and grow up to 8 ounces of the drug if licensed by the state. Retail sale of recreational marijuana also would begin. On Sept. 15, Toledo voters supported reducing penalties in the Toledo Municipal Code to no fines or jail time for marijuana-related offenses. The law went into effect a week ago. [continues 383 words]
'Tough on crime' doesn't help: From Lauren-Brooke Eisen, at MSNBC.com. We have been through this before as a nation - during the crack epidemic of the late '80s and early '90s, and the previous heroin crisis of the '70s - and we have valuable lessons to draw upon when approaching today's challenge. One lesson is that the reactionary "tough on crime" rhetoric led us astray. It resulted in policymakers enacting ineffective and overly punitive drug policies, many of which resulted from knee-jerk reactions to media sensationalism of crime or political opportunism. [continues 2329 words]
Legalizing Marijuana in Ohio Shouldn't Require Giving Constitutional Cover to a Self-Selected Cartel of Growers Ohio voters deserve the opportunity to choose whether they want to legalize marijuana for medical and recreational use. But if they decide they do, they should not be forced in the process to make a small group of rich Ohioans enormously richer. That is the fatal flaw of Issue 3 on this fall's statewide ballot, and why the proposal deserves a NO vote. [continues 781 words]
COLUMBUS - A poll released Thursday showed that more than half of Ohio voters believe that adults' personal use of small amounts of marijuana should be legal. When it comes to just medical use, support soars to 90 percent, according to the Quinnipiac Poll. The poll questions, however, were broadly phrased for voters in the presidential swing states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida and were not specifically tailored to Issue 3. That's the pot legalization and commercialization question on the Nov. 3 ballot, on which Ohioans are already voting. [continues 493 words]
The Quinnipiac Poll Also Showed Support Among Ohio Voters for Medical Marijuana at 90 Percent. An overwhelming number of Ohioans would be OK with legalizing medical marijuana, while a smaller number - but still a majority - back legalizing recreational marijuana, according to a poll released on Thursday. What's unclear is whether those people will vote for Issue 3, ResponsibleOhio's plan to legalize both types of marijuana use. The issue is on the ballot statewide. The Quinnipiac poll showed support among Ohio voters for medical marijuana at 90 percent and for recreational use at 53 percent. [continues 366 words]
90 Percent of Voters Support Medical Purposes COLUMBUS - More than half of Ohio voters support the personal use of marijuana by adults with support soaring to 90 percent for just medical purposes, according to a Quinnipiac Poll released today. These questions of support were posed generally to registered voters in presidential swing states Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida and did not ask voters specifically about the legalization and commercialization ballot issue on which Ohioans are already voting for the Nov. 3 election. [continues 374 words]
Inside Ohio
