Proposal to legalize marijuana in Ohio qualifies for Nov 2015 ballot

Regular readers know I have lately given a lot of attention to discussion and debate over marijuana reform in Ohio not only because it is the state in which I live, but also because there seemed to be a real chance for the next big popular vote on marijuana reform to take place in the Buckeye State.  And now, as this local article highlights, it is official that “Ohio voters will decide this fall whether to legalize marijuana in the Buckeye State for recreational and medical use.” Here are the basics:

ResponsibleOhio’s marijuana legalization constitutional amendment was certified Wednesday by the Ohio secretary of state.  It will appear as Issue 3 on the statewide ballot for the general election on Nov. 3.  If approved by voters, Ohio would be the fifth state to legalize marijuana for recreational use and the first to do so without first having a medical marijuana program….

ResponsibleOhio had to submit at least 305,591 valid signatures of registered Ohio voters, meeting a certain threshold in 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties.  The group initially fell short of that goal but was able to exceed it with a second batch of signatures.  Of the 91,541 supplemental signatures submitted by ResponsibleOhio, 44,185 were determined valid.  That number was added to the 276,082 valid signatures submitted on June 30 for a total of 320,267 valid signatures.  The group reported spending nearly $2.5 million through June to collect signatures.

The issue now heads to the Ohio Ballot Board, a bipartisan panel led by Secretary of State Jon Husted, which will write the amendment summary for the ballot.  The amendment would allow adults age 21 and older to buy, possess and grow marijuana in limited amounts. Commercial marijuana, which would be taxed, could only be grown on 10 pot farms owned by campaign investors. Tax revenues would go toward local governments, cannabis research and drug abuse and addiction treatment.

Anti-drug organizations and marijuana advocates have criticized ResponsibleOhio’s plan, which opponents say would cement a monopoly on pot in the Ohio Constitution.

The marijuana legalization amendment will appear on the ballot after a competing issue sponsored by state lawmakers. Issue 2 would prohibit language granting “a monopoly, oligopoly or cartel” in the Ohio Constitution. Husted and attorneys for state lawmakers have said Issue 2 would trump the marijuana amendment, even if both passed on Election Day.

Issue 2 would require future amendments that propose monopolies or oligopolies to be posed as two questions on the same ballot — first, to suspend the monopoly rules and second, to approve the measure.