COLUMBUS – Both sides of the marijuana legalization debate in Ohio launched their campaigns in Columbus Monday as the battle over a Nov. 3 ballot issue heats up.
The group behind the proposed constitutional amendment kicked off a statewide bus tour to drum up voter support for the issue. The “Green Rush” tour is scheduled to make 150 stops in all of Ohio’s 88 counties.
Opponents of the measure contend it would put children’s health at risk because “marijuana-infused products like candy and cookies, which often have dangerously high levels of THC, and are highly tempting to children,” according to a position paper circulated by Ohioans Against Marijuana Monopolies. The coalition includes business and hospital groups, the Ohio State Medical Association and others.
The group behind the ballot issue, ResponsibleOhio, says it is the opponents who are endangering children because defeat of the measure would allow marijuana distribution to remain in the hands of criminals.
“Their unfortunate stance means they’re protecting drug dealers who don’t pay taxes, care about sick people, create legitimate jobs or check kids’ ID’s,” ResponsibleOhio executive director Ian James said. “We earnestly believe that legalizing marijuana for personal and medical use is the safest way because we’re going to close the gateway and demand ID, and right now drug dealers don’t care that they sell to kids.”
The proposal from the group ResponsibleOhio seeks to legalize marijuana for medicinal and recreational use. It would allow adults 21 and over to buy marijuana and establish a network of 10 authorized growing locations around the state.
Passage of the proposed amendment on Nov. 3rd would make Ohio a rare state to go from entirely outlawing marijuana to allowing it for all uses in a single vote.
A state board is slated to decide today how the marijuana legalization measure, as well as two others, will be phrased this fall.
In addition to the marijuana legalization amendment, voters will also decide the fate of restrictions aimed at keeping monopolies or cartels from being added to the state constitution, a measure placed on the ballot in response to the marijuana legalization proposal, and a third issue governing changes in how Ohio draws its political boundaries.
The state Ballot Board meets to approve ballot language and receive explanations and arguments for all three statewide initiatives up for a vote on Nov. 3.