Vermilion police Capt. Michael Reinheimer's termination from his department did not come as a shock.

Reinheimer has faced discipline in the past.

The last straw came when Reinheimer decided to wear a pin on his department issued police jacket supporting marijuana legalization at a police auction Nov. 7.

Why, Capt. Reinheimer?

There's nothing wrong with taking a stance on something you believe in. In this case, Reinheimer wants marijuana to be legal.

What the captain did was wrong. He violated department policy by altering his uniform.

[continues 535 words]

VERMILION, Ohio - A police officer fired after he wore a pro-marijuana pin on his police jacket during an auction said Wednesday that he plans to fight his dismissal.

Vermilion Police Capt. Michael Reinheimer believes he was fired for wearing the pin. But Chris Hartung, the city's police chief, said Reinheimer already had disciplinary problems before the auction and the pin was the simply the last straw.

Reinheimer said he plans to appeal his termination before Vermilion's Civil Service Commission. If they reject his appeal, he plans to sue the city.

[continues 534 words]

Only "a meteor striking the earth" would prevent passage of the ballot issue to legalize marijuana in Ohio. -- Ian James, campaign manager for State Issue 3, in a television interview in Columbus.

Four days later, it struck.

Among its victims were James, who lost every shred of credibility he ever had, and a small group of rich investors whose greed got in the way of their common sense.

Fast forward about 85 years.

At the dawn of the 22nd century, some historians will examine in detail the best and worst political campaigns of the past 100 years.

[continues 690 words]

One of the most surprising results from last week's state elections was Ohio voters voting overwhelmingly against Big Pot. By a nearly 2-to-1 margin, they defeated a ballot measure that would have permitted the legalization of marijuana in the Buckeye State.

Misleadingly named Responsible-Ohio, the measure would have allowed the commercial production, retail sale and personal use of marijuana. Yet despite Big Pot's $25 million cash infusion into the effort, voters rejected the spin that marijuana legalization is safe or in the best interests of citizens.

[continues 626 words]

At Least Four Groups Are Now Pursuing Future Ballot Initiatives.

COLUMBUS - The good ole-fashioned butt-kicking Ohio voters delivered to ResponsibleOhio Tuesday won't scare off pro-pot forces from trying again. No less than four marijuana groups are talking about or circulating petitions to get on the statewide ballot, some as early as next year.

Even ResponsibleOhio vows to return with another proposal to present to voters.

Jacob Wagner of LegalizeOhio2016, one of the four groups, said the defeat of Issue 3 cleared the decks for a cleaner, less controversial marijuana legalization plan.

[continues 1363 words]

Issue 3 - the proposed Ohio marijuana monopoly - suffered a jaw-dropping loss Tuesday. But that doesn't mean another Issue 3-like ballot issue won't surface again, maybe as soon as next year.

That's despite such startling facts as the rejection of Issue 3 in all 88 counties, even party-hearty Athens. Likewise, the Western Reserve's liberal citadel, Oberlin, voted against Issue 3. For that matter, Issue 3 failed to carry one of the four precincts in tie-dyed Yellow Springs.

[continues 548 words]

State Issue 3 Was the Wrong Way to Approach Marijuana Legalization

By a margin of nearly 2 to 1, Ohio voters on Tuesday rejected a scheme to legalize marijuana for medical and recreational purposes. There are a variety of reasons for the resounding defeat, but one thing is clear: Ohioans felt that Issue 3 was the wrong way to go.

The fact that voters also approved anti-monopoly Issue 2, which will make it harder for self-interested parties to amend the Ohio Constitution for personal gain, shows that the monopoly aspect was a big negative factor that united people across the political and ideological spectrum against Issue 3. Even many of those who generally favor marijuana legalization chafed at well-heeled backers trying to cut themselves a sweetheart deal and enshrine it into the constitution.

[continues 424 words]

I just want to thank God and the 65 percent of the clear-thinking Ohioans who voted to oppose the legalization of marijuana, including those who voted against it because it is a moral issue to them and, in the end, just an asinine idea - not just because it gave a monopoly to a handful of money changers.

When one considers the Mexican cartels and gangs that are responsible for much of the violence in the streets of America in an attempt to control the drug trade, one has to give a good share of the blame to those who use it and are in favor of legalizing it.

[continues 109 words]

After years of resistance, Republican legislative leaders now are heading down the path toward legalizing marijuana for medical purposes.

At the same time, ResponsibleOhio marijuana investor Dr. Suresh Gupta said on Wednesday that the marijuana campaign that stumbled badly on Tuesday will be back, possibly next year, with a plan that doesn't involve a monopoly. "Absolutely. We're not here to run away," said Gupta, a Dayton anesthesiologist and pain-management physician who owns a proposed pot-growing site in Pataskala.

[continues 975 words]

The sheer size of Tuesday's crushing electoral defeat of marijuana legalization in the Buckeye State surprised political experts inside and out of Ohio. Despite a $20 million campaign, Issue 3 lost. Amid its smoking wreckage, six reasons emerge to explain what happened to Issue 3 - and what happens next.

The business plan. "Boy, that word monopoly. It's been an ugly word in politics since Theodore Roosevelt's day," political scientist David Niven at the University of Cincinnati said Tuesday night. Issue 3 was unique in the history of the modern legalization movement in that it would have written into the Ohio Constitution provisions to limit the cultivation of the state's crop to 10 already-chosen properties. Issue 3's backers said the plan's advantage would have been to allow the state to tightly regulate marijuana at the grow source. The technical term for such an economic model is oligopoly. But the term "monopoly" got slapped on Issue 3 from the outset, and Issue 3 backers could never run it down.

[continues 640 words]

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]