On Wednesday, as early voting began in Ohio, the state Senate adopted a GOP resolution encouraging voters to reject the marijuana legalization initiative that is on the ballot.
Introduced by Sens. Mark Romanchuk and Terry Johnson, along with 14 other Senate Republicans are co-sponsors of SR 216. The SR 216 lists a list of terrible things that would happen to the state if Issue 2, the cannabis ballot initiative, becomes law.
The proposed law, which was drafted by the commercial cannabis industry, it said, “doesn’t serve the best interest of the people of Ohio. It will bring unacceptable risks and threats to the health and safety of all Ohioans and especially children. It will create hazards in the workplace, as well as unacceptable challenges and costs for employers.
In a poll conducted by the campaign, published at the end of last month, nearly 3 in 5 state voters supported adult-use legalization. This is consistent with other independent surveys.
The Senate’s dire predictions, which don’t cite any data to support them, are a selective reading around the evidence available on marijuana legalization.
In the resolution, it is stated, for instance, that marijuana “is an ‘entry’ drug and that research shows that four of ten regular users of marijuana go on to try other drugs.” It also states, albeit inaccurately, that drug overdoses have been “the leading cause of injury or death in Ohio since 2007.” The resolution states that drug overdoses have killed 33,000 Ohioans between 2011 and 2020.
COVID-19, according to the Ohio Department of Health has so far killed over 42,000 people.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug overdoses killed nearly as many people as Alzheimer’s in Ohio.
A growing body of research shows that cannabis can be used to help people avoid addictive prescription drugs and illicit substances. In a recent study, marijuana was “significantly related” to a reduction in the use of non-prescribed opioids.
The GOP Resolution claims that legalization will lead to an increase in emergency room visits by children, higher rates of psychosis among young people, decreased intelligence and learning abilities, more car accidents, increased crime, a larger illicit cannabis market, and “greater risks at work for employers, workers, customers and others.”
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It also attacks the social equity provisions of the measure, which would prioritize and provide jobs for those most affected by the drug war.
The resolution states that “the commercial marijuana industry’s proposal law” would return more than one third of tax revenues to the industry in the form a “social equity” program.
Tom Haren, the spokesperson for the Yes On Issue 2 campaign, denied the allegations in an email sent to Marijuana Moment.
Haren stated that “the opponents of Issue 2 are continuing to use lies, hyperbole and Reefer Madness talk points because they realize they cannot tell Ohio voters what is true.” “Issue 2, which will end the injustice of prohibition of marijuana, provide access to medical cannabis to those Ohioans who cannot participate in our program and generate hundreds of millions in new tax revenues, will benefit Ohio as a whole.” “All while driving out the illicit market.”
He added that the reform “will be decided on by ordinary Ohioans – not career politicians and lobbyists – because Ohioans know voting yes to Issue 2 is best for protecting public health.”
Those opposed to legalization applauded GOP legislators “for taking such a strong stance in defense of the state.”
In a recent press release, Angela Phillips of Protect Ohio Workers and Families and a member the steering committee, Protect Ohio Workers and Families said: “The risks recreational marijuana poses for Ohioans’ safety, health and workplaces were again outlined in clear and stark language today in the Ohio Senate.” This deal is far too rigged to the marijuana industry’s benefit. Ohio will suffer the consequences of this deal for a long time.
Measure on November 7th ballot:
- This initiative will allow adults over 21 to possess up to 2.5 ounces (or 15 grams) of cannabis. They can also possess up to 15 grams (or 2.5 ounces) of marijuana concentrates.
- Each individual could grow six plants to use for their own personal needs, and a maximum of 12 plants in a household.
- The 10 percent tax on cannabis sales would go to fund social equity and job programs (36%), localities who allow adult-use marijuana businesses to operate in their areas (36%), education and drug misuse programs (25%), and administrative costs for implementing the system (3%)
- The Department of Commerce would establish a Division of Cannabis Control. The division would be able to “license and regulate adult-use cannabis operators, adult-use testing laboratories, as well as individuals who are required to have a license.”
- This measure will give current medical cannabis businesses an advantage in the recreational market. Within nine months after the law’s enactment, regulators would have to start issuing adult use licenses to applicants who are qualified and operate medical cannabis operations.
- The division will also have to issue 50 adult-use retail licenses, and 40 recreational cultivator licences. This is “with preference given to applicants who are participating in the cannabis social equality and jobs program.” It would also authorize regulators to grant additional licenses for recreational market after two years.
- Municipalities could opt not to allow new recreational cannabis businesses to open in their region, but existing medical marijuana companies would still be allowed to operate, even if adult-use operations were to be added. Employers can also enforce policies that prohibit workers from using cannabis for adult purposes.
- The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services would also be required to enter into a contract with regulators to provide “cannabis-addiction services” which would include “education and treatment of individuals with addiction issues to cannabis or to other controlled substances, including opioids.”
- Some advocates worry about the lack specific language regarding automatic expungements, which would clear the records for people who have convictions from crimes that would become legal under the new legislation. The measure includes a clause requiring regulators “to study and fund” criminal reform initiatives, including expungements.
As the election approaches, both sides have increased their messaging and voter turnout efforts. The yes campaign sent cease-and-desist letters last week to television stations that were airing opposition ads, which organizers deemed “full of lies.” In addition, the Campaign to Regulate Cannabis Like Alcohol (the primary supporter of Issue 2) released an election advertisement of its own.
Attorney General Dave Yost, (R), published a report on the initiative . He said that this analysis is intended to give voters “vital transparency and clarity” in a campaign marked by “inflamed” and “inaccurate” rhetoric.
Despite the GOP resolution, other Republicans in Ohio are divided over the issue. Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, said, in August, that it would be “a real mistake” for us to have marijuana for recreational use. He also noted that, in 2012, he had visited Colorado and seen what he called an “unmitigated catastrophe.”
Last year, Sen. John Hickenlooper, who was Colorado’s governor in 2012 and was a Democrat, stated that he had initially been concerned that legalization might encourage more young people to use drugs, but now believes that these worries were unfounded.
“I believe we have proven and shown that there has been no increase in teenagers’ experimentation with drugs.” Hickenlooper stated that there was no change in the frequency of use or driving while high. “All of the things that we were most concerned about didn’t happen.”
The policy change is supported by one of Ohio’s Republican members of Congress. Rep. Dave Joyce, R-OH, co-chairman of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus told Marijuana Moment earlier that the representative is “supportive of the measure and intends to vote yes.”
If the initiative is passed, the number of states that have legalized adult use will increase to 24.
Ohio voters rejected the 2015 measure on 64-36, which would have changed the state constitution to legalize pot and give the control of the market a small group producers. The organizers of the current campaign claim that they have learned lessons from the failure when crafting the current initiative.
In May , bipartisan Ohio legislators submitted a separate bill for legalizing marijuana. This gave the Ohio legislature another chance to lead the way on reform. It has not yet advanced, but now it is up to the voters to decide.
Marijuana users who caught COVID had ‘better outcomes and mortality’ than nonusers, study finds
Photo by Philip Steffan.
The post Ohio Senate Urges voters to Oppose Marijuana Legitimization on The Ballot Citing Anti-Drug Talking Points first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
