Reviewing ups-and-downs and defeat in 2015 of Ohio effort to legalize recreational marijuana via Issue 3

I am excited to remind readers (and also my students) that it is that time of year again:  students in my Ohio State University Moritz College of Law marijuana reform seminar are gearing up to begin in-class presentations.   This means, inter alia, that this blog space will be filled in coming weeks with links and materials provided by my students as a background/preview for their coming presentation.

The first of the scheduled presentations involves a review of this history (and epic fail) of Issue 3, the 2015 campaign in Ohio seeking passage of a state constitutional amendment that would have fully legalized marijuana in the Buckeye State and put the rights to grow marijuana in the hands of a small group of financial backers of the initiative campaign.  The student making this presentations has suggested the following reading for classmates (and any others interested in recalling this tale):

“Is Responsible Ohio’s mascot Buddie ‘the Joe Camel of marijuana’?“(Oct 21, 2015 press article)

“On Ballot, Ohio Grapples With Specter of Marijuana Monopoly” (Nov 1, 2015 press article)

Proposed Constitutional Amendment Issue 2: “Anti-monopoly amendment; protects the initiative process from being used for personal economic benefit”

Proposed Constitutional Amendment Issue 3: “Grants a monopoly for the commercial production and sale of marijuana for recreational and medicinal purposes”

“Ohioans reject legalizing marijuana” (Nov 4, 2015 press article)

UPDATE:  And here is one more: “Will Ohio’s Marijuana Amendment Go up in Smoke” (Sept/Oct Ohio Lawyer article)