Ohio: Ballot Board Approves New Language For Marijuana Legalization Amendment

[Jacob Redmond]

The Ohio Ballot Board on Friday approved revised ballot language for Issue 3 that both supporters and opponents agreed fairly describes the proposed constitutional amendment to legalize marijuana for voters.

ResponsibleOhio, the political action committee backing Issue 3, had challenged the initial issue summary language and title that voters see on their ballots. The Ohio Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the Ballot Board, a bipartisan panel led by Secretary of State Jon Husted, must revise four paragraphs of the summary. The court upheld Husted's use of the word "monopoly" in the ballot title, which he has sole authority to set.

The final language was set just in time for county boards of election to send ballots to military and overseas voters on Saturday. Absentee voting by mail and in person for all other voters begins Oct. 6.

ResponsibleOhio Executive Director Ian James said the revised language provides voters with an accurate description of the amendment, which would legalize recreational and medical marijuana use and sales for adults age 21 years and older. Commercial marijuana could only be grown at 10 sites, owned by investors bankrolling the initiative. Ohioans could grow up to four flowering marijuana plants, kept out of public view, after obtaining a $50 license.

"What we had before was fatally flawed," James said. "It was very clearly biased and it needed to be changed."

The court found four places where the ballot language was misleading for voters:

• It said new schools, day care centers, churches and libraries could not displace marijuana stores and establishments within a 1,000 foot buffer zone without mentioning that new marijuana establishments could not locate there.
• It said adults could grow and transport over one-half pound of marijuana plus four flowering marijuana plants, but adults would be limited to 8 ounces of homegrown marijuana, which could not be transported, and 1 ounce of purchased marijuana.
• It did not mention that retail marijuana stores must need a state license and the approval of local voters, similar to liquor option elections.
• It did not mention that an additional growing site could be added after four years.

The Ballot Board unanimously approved changes to correct those sentences.

James said he would have made one additional change to the language approved Friday, to clarify that the 10 growing sites could be expanded annually if the state marijuana regulatory agency found demand was not being met.

Husted said the final language considered requests from both sides of the issue. Husted said he was not worried about the initial language because it was the first real opportunity the board had to go over the proposed amendment. Husted said the initiative process is rushed compared to how most legislation is approved in the General Assembly, which can take months or years.

He said voters need to know Issue 3's restriction on growers, which is why he put monopoly in the title: "Grants a monopoly for the commercial production and sale of marijuana for recreational and medicinal purposes."

"This is not your run of the mill initiative," Husted said after the vote. "This is an amendment to the Ohio Constitution that creates a monopoly for a narcotic. This is a big deal. The constitution was designed to protect individual rights, not to grant special rights."

News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Ballot Board Approves New Language For Marijuana Legalization Amendment
Author: Jackie Borchardt
Contact: Email The Author
Photo Credit: Elaine Thompson
Website: Cleveland News

 

[ilynnboy]

Crybaby.
Too bad your negatively worded sentences were found to be just that Negative.
Not Impartial...
I detest politicians who try and manipulate elections to suit their beliefs.

Now watch it pass..
Jon Husted you Failed..
He actually publicly stated that he was against it.
And tried to mislead the voters in the wording of the ballot proposal..Slimeball politicians.

 

[Black Thumb]

Why would you want to strip Ohioans the rights to manufacture and sell.

This is a bully bill. That will just create havoc and benefit only the 10 rich bastards and the police who hunt for the mom and pops who have to resort to blackmarket.

If this bill passes nobody will be able to shut it down it will always be a monopoly.

 

[Weekender]

Husted should face both state and federal charges on trying to manipulate an election, just my opinion.
Not really different from the lady in Kentucky not issuing marriage licenses due to her belief's.

 

[Radogast]

The content changes are minor and appear fairly routine as described. The title still reads "Grants a monopoly for the commercial production and sale of marijuana for recreational and medicinal purposes."

 

[DrRootswell]

You are dead on blackthumb. It actually strengthens the laws against " competition" from anyone outside the 10 rich bastards. The " licensing" of the 4 plant homegrows means that the state regulators can and will come anytme they want to " inspect" the same they can do for junkyards and pawnshops. Once you " register" your ass is theirs.

 

[DrRootswell]

VOTE NO NO NO to Responsible Ohio's scheme. It is and should be named GANGSTER Cartel Ohio. Prices sky high to rake in as much money as they can with INCREASED attacks on citizens.

 

[DrRootswell]

The word POLITICIAN means selfserving. This is why Kasich is doing so poorly in the polls. He is a liar and a taliban also. He was WRONG on allowing all citizens the right to marry, and he is WRONG on this also. Kneejerk reactionary who just refuses to allow the people the right to decide for themselves.