Sherrod Brown, the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee (D-OH), says he voted for a ballot measure to legalize pot in Ohio. He called it a “hard choice” that he made because he believed that this reform would improve “safety” among consumers.
In an interview and a post on social media, the senator who had said he wasn’t sure about Issue 2 in September, revealed that he voted YES on the cannabis reform last week, during early voting.
Brown said Spectrum News 1 that “it was a difficult decision.” My wife and I talked about it a lot. We discussed the importance of exposing young people to. “We’ve covered a lot of ground in the end.”
Connie and me just finished voting.
Get your photo ID, and plan to vote next week early or on Election Day. Find your early voting location at https://t.co/iq4HtsqzNB. pic.twitter.com/2BlMz4u2h0
Sherrod Brown October 27th, 2023 HTML0
“We voted to legalize because we thought overall regulation–legalization and regulation of marijuana use–the public would be safer doing it that way,” the chairman, whose panel separately approved a federal marijuana banking bill in September, said.
Brown has been criticized by reformers over his decades long tenure in Congress. He consistently declined to sponsor or co-sponsor legislation , despite the growing bipartisan support.
He voiced “significant concerns” regarding an earlier Ohio marijuana legalization ballot initiative that voters ultimately rejected. To be fair, many longtime cannabis advocates also opposed it because they believed the measure would have unfairly shaped the market.
Brown said as recently as 2018 that cannabis could be a gateway substance. He said that he would be watching the states which have legalized marijuana to see how they react. “If it means less addiction to stronger drugs or if that’s a portal–and I’m not sure we don’t yet know that.”
In 1998, Brown was a member of the House and voted in favor of a Resolution that stated that marijuana is an addictive and dangerous drug that should not be allowed for medical use. The measure also claimed that “ambiguous cultural messages” about marijuana are leading to a rise in marijuana use by children and teens.
The resolution stated that “Congress supports the Federal legal process in place to determine the safety and efficacy for drugs and opposes attempts to circumvent it by legalizing marijuana and other Schedule I substances for medicinal purposes without valid scientific evidence and approval from the Food and Drug Administration.”
According to NORML, Brown stated in a letter he wrote to a constituent that “there are certain risks involved with legalizing marijuana.” Brown wrote in a 2010 letter to a constituent that “there are risks associated with making marijuana legally available,” according to NORML.
Brown said in 2011 that he “probably” would not take the initiative to reform marijuana legislation.
The senator stated, “I have other priorities.”
Brown, as a member of the House, voted in favor amendments that prevented federal interference in state medical marijuana programs. He has also expressed support for the legalization of medical cannabis, and for preserving states’ right to set their own cannabis laws.
When it was time to vote this time on statewide legalization, the senator gave a thumbs-up at the ballot box.
Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH), co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, has also affirmed that he will vote “yes” on Issue 2. Rep. Dave Joyce, R-OH, co-chairman of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus has also affirmed he will vote “yes” on issue 2. He’s encouraged all Ohio voters to take part and make their voices known on this important topic.
—
Marijuana Moment tracks more than 1,000 cannabis and drug policy bills that have been introduced in state legislatures, and Congress. Patreon supporters who pledge at least $25/month gain access to our interactive charts, maps and hearing calendar.
Discover more about our marijuana bills tracker. Become a Patreon supporter to gain access.
—
Two recent polls indicate that the majority of lawmakers who approve the legalization initiative may be the legislators themselves.
Public Policy Polling conducted a survey and found that 59 % of respondents would vote in favor of Issue 2 while 39 % would vote against. Only 2 percent of voters were still undecided.
Two-thirds of voters in a separate survey conducted by Northern Ohio University support the legalization of marijuana in general, even though it didn’t ask specifically about Issue 2. In that survey, the questions about cannabis were restricted to attitudes and use of the drug as well as policies surrounding it.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, meanwhile has been speaking to local TV stations about his opposition to legalization measure . A survey of Ohio legislators suggests that the majority — 54 percent — believes voters will approve ballot initiative.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has published a separate analysis of the initiative. He said that it is intended to give voters “vital transparency and clarity” in midst of a campaign with “inflamed” and “inaccurate” rhetoric.
Schumer Stresses “Moral Responsibilities” of Adding Criminal Justice provisions To Marijuana Bank Bill As Republicans Push for Floor Vote
Photo by Mike Latimer.
The article Senate Banking Committee chairman says he voted for Ohio Marijuana Legalization Ballot Initiative, Despite reservations first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
