Marijuana legalization isn’t just a hot topic in Mr. Scherer’s AP Government fishbowls- it’s a serious possibility for Ohio. Issue 3, the Ohio Marijuana Legalization Initiative, will be on the November 2015 ballot and promises the legalization of marijuana in The Buckeye State for both medical and recreational use. Medically, anyone with a debilitating medical condition could potentially use medical marijuana prescribed by their doctors. Recreationally, only adults 21 and over may use, buy, or possibly sell (with one of approximately 1,100 available dispensary licenses) marijuana. According to ResponsibleOhio PAC, the organization which spearheaded the initiative, there will be 10 Marijuana Growth, Cultivation and Extraction (MGCE) facilities (located in Butler, Clermont, Franklin, Hamilton, Licking, Lorain, Lucas, Delaware, Stark, and Summit Counties) that will have exclusive commercial rights to grow and distribute marijuana to the dispensaries. These stores will be located only in cities which have passed legislation agreeing with Issue 3. They will be allowed to sell recreational marijuana in the following forms: joints, sprays, ointments, edibles such as brownies, cookies, and other candies.
Since some state lawmakers are concerned that the referendum may create what some are referring to as an “initiated monopoly” or a “marijuana monopoly” for the ten facilities, the Ohio General Assembly added the Ohio Initiated Monopolies Amendment, Issue 2, to the ballot. According to Mr. Schultz, history teacher, this proposed amendment will ban economic monopolies and have the power to completely override Issue 3. This means that if Issue 3 passes but Issue 2 does not, marijuana will be legal (with limitations) in Ohio. If Issue 3 does not pass but Issue 2 does, or if both issues pass, the pot-smoking will be left to our friends on the West Coast.
ResponsibleOhio claims that its initiative is “the exact opposite of a monopoly” since the 10 facilities will be competing for with each other on price and quality. “There is no coordination between them, they will be trying to make money by selling the best goods at the best prices to stores, dispensaries and manufacturers,” ResponsibleOhio states on its website, yeson3ohio.com. The pro-marijuana organization also claims that the amendment will grant the state of Ohio the right to revoke growing licenses from the companies and replace them with new companies if they do not meet Ohio’s demand. Additionally, Ohio will have the option to add an 11 growing facility in four years if demand is not being met. According to the Cincinnati Inquirer, the MGCE facilities would be independently run, as required by the Sherman Antitrust Act, and they would not sell directly to the public.
Ohioans Against Marijuana Monopolies, an organization that opposes Issue 3, claims that ResponsibleOhio is comprised of “self-selected wealthy investors aiming to acquire exclusive rights to grow, manufacture and distribute marijuana and marijuana-infused edible products to Ohioans for recreational and medical use.” This group believes that regardless of the competition occurring between the 10 facilities, their flat tax rates of 15 percent for the MGCE facilities and 5 percent for retailers embedded in the constitution confirms that the amendment would in fact be creating a marijuana monopoly. They also fear that Issue 3 will be a detriment to public health, as it would allow any Ohioan 21 or over to grow four flowering plants per license (purchased for $50 from the Ohio Marijuana Control Commision) and have up to eight ounces of what ResponsibleOhio calls “useable product” at a time, as well as introduce a market for marijuana based candy to Ohio, which might attract children to the gateway drug. Despite the worries of anti-marijuana groups, ResponsibleOhio stands by its claim that Issue 3 presents no danger to Ohioans. The organization explains that while home-growers 21 or older may purchase, possess, transport, use, and share up to a single ounce of marijuana for recreational use, they are prohibited from selling it. Issue 3 also makes an effort to promote public health and safety by prohibiting stores selling marijuana from being located within 1,000 feet of a house of worship, public library, public or chartered elementary or secondary school, state-licensed day care center, or public playground, according to the official ballot text, signed by the Ohio Secretary of State. “A store's location would also need to be approved by voters in the precinct in which the store would be located,” reads the ballot.
The initiative would create a new state government agency called the Marijuana Control Commission with limited authority over the industry to regulate it. The official ballot text explains that, the commission would be comprised of seven Ohio residents, including a law enforcement officer, a physician, an attorney, a patient advocate, a resident with experience owning and operating a business, a resident with experience in the legal marijuana industry and a member of the public.
The rest of the public, if 18 or older, will have the chance to vote on this issue. Though students at MHS will not be able to use marijuana legally, this initiative has the potential to have a substantial impact on our futures. 2015 could be the year marijuana is legalized in Ohio, but would that harm Ohio residents more than it would benefit them?
How will you vote on Issue 3? Click the button below and take the poll.
Since some state lawmakers are concerned that the referendum may create what some are referring to as an “initiated monopoly” or a “marijuana monopoly” for the ten facilities, the Ohio General Assembly added the Ohio Initiated Monopolies Amendment, Issue 2, to the ballot. According to Mr. Schultz, history teacher, this proposed amendment will ban economic monopolies and have the power to completely override Issue 3. This means that if Issue 3 passes but Issue 2 does not, marijuana will be legal (with limitations) in Ohio. If Issue 3 does not pass but Issue 2 does, or if both issues pass, the pot-smoking will be left to our friends on the West Coast.
ResponsibleOhio claims that its initiative is “the exact opposite of a monopoly” since the 10 facilities will be competing for with each other on price and quality. “There is no coordination between them, they will be trying to make money by selling the best goods at the best prices to stores, dispensaries and manufacturers,” ResponsibleOhio states on its website, yeson3ohio.com. The pro-marijuana organization also claims that the amendment will grant the state of Ohio the right to revoke growing licenses from the companies and replace them with new companies if they do not meet Ohio’s demand. Additionally, Ohio will have the option to add an 11 growing facility in four years if demand is not being met. According to the Cincinnati Inquirer, the MGCE facilities would be independently run, as required by the Sherman Antitrust Act, and they would not sell directly to the public.
Ohioans Against Marijuana Monopolies, an organization that opposes Issue 3, claims that ResponsibleOhio is comprised of “self-selected wealthy investors aiming to acquire exclusive rights to grow, manufacture and distribute marijuana and marijuana-infused edible products to Ohioans for recreational and medical use.” This group believes that regardless of the competition occurring between the 10 facilities, their flat tax rates of 15 percent for the MGCE facilities and 5 percent for retailers embedded in the constitution confirms that the amendment would in fact be creating a marijuana monopoly. They also fear that Issue 3 will be a detriment to public health, as it would allow any Ohioan 21 or over to grow four flowering plants per license (purchased for $50 from the Ohio Marijuana Control Commision) and have up to eight ounces of what ResponsibleOhio calls “useable product” at a time, as well as introduce a market for marijuana based candy to Ohio, which might attract children to the gateway drug. Despite the worries of anti-marijuana groups, ResponsibleOhio stands by its claim that Issue 3 presents no danger to Ohioans. The organization explains that while home-growers 21 or older may purchase, possess, transport, use, and share up to a single ounce of marijuana for recreational use, they are prohibited from selling it. Issue 3 also makes an effort to promote public health and safety by prohibiting stores selling marijuana from being located within 1,000 feet of a house of worship, public library, public or chartered elementary or secondary school, state-licensed day care center, or public playground, according to the official ballot text, signed by the Ohio Secretary of State. “A store's location would also need to be approved by voters in the precinct in which the store would be located,” reads the ballot.
The initiative would create a new state government agency called the Marijuana Control Commission with limited authority over the industry to regulate it. The official ballot text explains that, the commission would be comprised of seven Ohio residents, including a law enforcement officer, a physician, an attorney, a patient advocate, a resident with experience owning and operating a business, a resident with experience in the legal marijuana industry and a member of the public.
The rest of the public, if 18 or older, will have the chance to vote on this issue. Though students at MHS will not be able to use marijuana legally, this initiative has the potential to have a substantial impact on our futures. 2015 could be the year marijuana is legalized in Ohio, but would that harm Ohio residents more than it would benefit them?
How will you vote on Issue 3? Click the button below and take the poll.
Devon Stephen
Editor-in-Chief of Media
Editor-in-Chief of Media