Robert Celt
New Member
Ohio voters convincingly rejected the marijuana-legalization proposal on November's ballot, but state lawmakers will explore the possibility of allowing the use of pot for medical purposes only.
Multiple polls have shown strong support for the concept of medical marijuana. The Ohio Senate and House will announce as early as this week a series of bipartisan hearings across the state to gauge Ohioans' feelings on what that system might look like.
Absent from those discussions, though, will be the idea of legalizing pot for recreational purposes or the wholesale and retail infrastructures that were blamed for the failure of Issue 3 on Nov. 3.
Sen. David Burke, a Marysville, Ohio, pharmacist and Republican whose district stretches north to Sandusky Bay, is not a fan of marijuana.
But he said the General Assembly must look at the issue rather than allow someone else to use the state constitution to go around lawmakers as occurred in 2009 when voters legalized casino gambling.
"There is more support among Ohioans for medical marijuana than there has been in the past," said Mr. Burke, the Senate's frontman on the issue. "I believe it is prudent that the General Assembly function as it should and reflect the will of our constituents."
The hearings would be designed to gauge support or opposition of the concept and to consider options for a distribution system for medical marijuana.
Marijuana remains illegal under federal and state law, but lawmakers may look at some form of research program that might have the state grow, test, and dispense marijuana to patients with debilitating conditions, for whom their doctors determine marijuana might be beneficial.
"When something fails with nearly 70 percent [voting "no"], was it because they didn't like the content of the ballot question or didn't like the way it was presented?" Mr. Burke asked. "Ferreting out what people are looking for is important."
All of this would occur against the backdrop of talk by ResponsibleOhio of trying again this fall to convince voters to legalize pot for medical, recreational, and commercial purposes and a related proposed law, the Fresh Start Act, that the group has just placed in the legislature's lap. The proposed law would wipe out past criminal convictions for activity that is no longer considered a crime.
All of this would occur during a presidential election year in which one side or the other may see some tactical advantage in having a pot-related question on the November ballot.
"We would be looking for a consistent product as part of a cost-effective method and coordinated system of health care," Mr. Burke said. "We would treat it like any other drug but also be mindful that this is still an illegal product."
Sen. Kenny Yuko (D., Richmond Heights) would be the frontman on the issue for minority Senate Democrats. He has multiple sclerosis and has introduced pot-legalization bills in the past without success.
State Reps. Kirk Schuring (R., Canton) and Mike Curtin (D., Columbus) will lead their respective caucuses in the House.
"We're crystallizing our thoughts," Mr. Schuring said. "We're hoping that sometime by the end of next week we may have an announcement to make.
"It's too soon to say exactly what that will be."
Mr. Burke said he hopes the hearings will lead to relatively quick drafting of proposed legislation, assuming the hearings point in that direction. He said he does not want the issue to linger for a long period of time without action.
House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger (R., Clarksville) declined to respond last week when asked how the House plans to deal with the Fresh Start Act, which was forced into lawmakers' agenda through the petition process. The General Assembly has until early May to pass a bill that would satisfy the proposal's supporters.
If not, the group could place the question directly before voters on the November presidential ballot by gathering more signatures of registered voters.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Ohio Lawmakers Look Into Medical Use Of Pot
Author: Jim Provance
Contact: The Blade
Photo Credit: The Columbus Dispatch
Website: The Blade
Multiple polls have shown strong support for the concept of medical marijuana. The Ohio Senate and House will announce as early as this week a series of bipartisan hearings across the state to gauge Ohioans' feelings on what that system might look like.
Absent from those discussions, though, will be the idea of legalizing pot for recreational purposes or the wholesale and retail infrastructures that were blamed for the failure of Issue 3 on Nov. 3.
Sen. David Burke, a Marysville, Ohio, pharmacist and Republican whose district stretches north to Sandusky Bay, is not a fan of marijuana.
But he said the General Assembly must look at the issue rather than allow someone else to use the state constitution to go around lawmakers as occurred in 2009 when voters legalized casino gambling.
"There is more support among Ohioans for medical marijuana than there has been in the past," said Mr. Burke, the Senate's frontman on the issue. "I believe it is prudent that the General Assembly function as it should and reflect the will of our constituents."
The hearings would be designed to gauge support or opposition of the concept and to consider options for a distribution system for medical marijuana.
Marijuana remains illegal under federal and state law, but lawmakers may look at some form of research program that might have the state grow, test, and dispense marijuana to patients with debilitating conditions, for whom their doctors determine marijuana might be beneficial.
"When something fails with nearly 70 percent [voting "no"], was it because they didn't like the content of the ballot question or didn't like the way it was presented?" Mr. Burke asked. "Ferreting out what people are looking for is important."
All of this would occur against the backdrop of talk by ResponsibleOhio of trying again this fall to convince voters to legalize pot for medical, recreational, and commercial purposes and a related proposed law, the Fresh Start Act, that the group has just placed in the legislature's lap. The proposed law would wipe out past criminal convictions for activity that is no longer considered a crime.
All of this would occur during a presidential election year in which one side or the other may see some tactical advantage in having a pot-related question on the November ballot.
"We would be looking for a consistent product as part of a cost-effective method and coordinated system of health care," Mr. Burke said. "We would treat it like any other drug but also be mindful that this is still an illegal product."
Sen. Kenny Yuko (D., Richmond Heights) would be the frontman on the issue for minority Senate Democrats. He has multiple sclerosis and has introduced pot-legalization bills in the past without success.
State Reps. Kirk Schuring (R., Canton) and Mike Curtin (D., Columbus) will lead their respective caucuses in the House.
"We're crystallizing our thoughts," Mr. Schuring said. "We're hoping that sometime by the end of next week we may have an announcement to make.
"It's too soon to say exactly what that will be."
Mr. Burke said he hopes the hearings will lead to relatively quick drafting of proposed legislation, assuming the hearings point in that direction. He said he does not want the issue to linger for a long period of time without action.
House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger (R., Clarksville) declined to respond last week when asked how the House plans to deal with the Fresh Start Act, which was forced into lawmakers' agenda through the petition process. The General Assembly has until early May to pass a bill that would satisfy the proposal's supporters.
If not, the group could place the question directly before voters on the November presidential ballot by gathering more signatures of registered voters.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Ohio Lawmakers Look Into Medical Use Of Pot
Author: Jim Provance
Contact: The Blade
Photo Credit: The Columbus Dispatch
Website: The Blade