Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
Two scions of the city's storied Taft family have invested in the Butler County property that would serve as one of the 10 marijuana-producing farms should voters legalize marijuana in November.
Brothers Woody Taft, a private equity investor, and Dudley Taft Jr., a noted local musician, expressed support Wednesday for the ResponsibleOhio ballot initiative for a constitutional amendment. The language would allow adults over 21 to use marijuana and children, with parental consent, to get medical cannabis to treat illness.
Under the initiative, adults over 21 also would be able to obtain a license to grow up to four marijuana plants for their personal use, but not for sale.
In a statement issued through ResponsibleOhio, Woody Taft said: "I love this state, and I care deeply about our economic and social well-being.Our current laws are archaic and cruel to the people in Ohio who need medical marijuana. The Ohio I know is more compassionate than that."
The brothers are the great-great-grandnephews of President William Howard Taft. They are cousins to Sen. Robert A. Taft Jr. of Ohio and former Ohio Gov. Robert A. Taft III.
Woody Taft is vice president of development at the Taft Broadcasting Co. and a trustee of the Louise Taft Semple foundation, which awards $1.5 million annually to southwestern Ohio education and arts organizations.
Woody Taft also said, "Marijuana is in our community to stay, but these potential tax dollars are delivered to a black market that fosters crime and violence. It's time for Ohio to reform this failed prohibition and replace it with a safe, legal market for marijuana."
Dudley Taft Jr., a graduate of Berklee College of Music, is a professional guitar player. He's going on tour in April to Europe and is working on his next album. On his website, he bills himself as "a thinking man's blues rocker." He recently purchased Peter Frampton's former home and studio in Cincinnati, where he now lives.
In the ResponsibleOhio statement, Dudley Taft said, "It's appalling that black Ohioans are four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana than white Ohioans, even though both groups use it equally. It is irresponsible to allow such an unjust system to continue. ResponsibleOhio's plan will take critical steps forward by eliminating the injustices of draconian marijuana laws."
Friday, the Ohio Ballot Board approved ResponsibleOhio's amendment. The campaign now must collect the 306,000 signatures required to qualify for the November ballot.
If voters approve the language, the measure would limit the commercial growth of marijuana to 10 sites around the state, which would be owned by the investors paying for the ballot campaign. Three of those sites would be in Hamilton, Butler and Clermont counties.
Lydia Bolander, spokeswoman for ResponsibleOhio, said Wednesday the Taft brothers "will be part owners of the facility in Butler County."
"My understanding of this is that they got involved through some mutual connections with people who are already involved (in the campaign)," Bolander said. "They think this is an urgent need. They're sort of coming together because of numerous factors. They care about the social and economic well being of the state."
The Butler County farm would be located on 40 acres in Middletown, northwest of the intersection of Todhunter and Yankee roads. The site is about 1.5 miles northwest of Monroe Senior High School.
Bolander said she would not discuss the amount of the Taft investment or whether the Tafts are contributing to the ballot campaign. "They're part owners of the company that would be managing the Butler County facility. And we will report any contributions as we are required to" under election law.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Tafts would own marijuana farm
Author: Anne Saker
Contact: asaker@enquirer.com
Photo Credit: cincinnati.com
Website: Cincinnati Enquirer
Brothers Woody Taft, a private equity investor, and Dudley Taft Jr., a noted local musician, expressed support Wednesday for the ResponsibleOhio ballot initiative for a constitutional amendment. The language would allow adults over 21 to use marijuana and children, with parental consent, to get medical cannabis to treat illness.
Under the initiative, adults over 21 also would be able to obtain a license to grow up to four marijuana plants for their personal use, but not for sale.
In a statement issued through ResponsibleOhio, Woody Taft said: "I love this state, and I care deeply about our economic and social well-being.Our current laws are archaic and cruel to the people in Ohio who need medical marijuana. The Ohio I know is more compassionate than that."
The brothers are the great-great-grandnephews of President William Howard Taft. They are cousins to Sen. Robert A. Taft Jr. of Ohio and former Ohio Gov. Robert A. Taft III.
Woody Taft is vice president of development at the Taft Broadcasting Co. and a trustee of the Louise Taft Semple foundation, which awards $1.5 million annually to southwestern Ohio education and arts organizations.
Woody Taft also said, "Marijuana is in our community to stay, but these potential tax dollars are delivered to a black market that fosters crime and violence. It's time for Ohio to reform this failed prohibition and replace it with a safe, legal market for marijuana."
Dudley Taft Jr., a graduate of Berklee College of Music, is a professional guitar player. He's going on tour in April to Europe and is working on his next album. On his website, he bills himself as "a thinking man's blues rocker." He recently purchased Peter Frampton's former home and studio in Cincinnati, where he now lives.
In the ResponsibleOhio statement, Dudley Taft said, "It's appalling that black Ohioans are four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana than white Ohioans, even though both groups use it equally. It is irresponsible to allow such an unjust system to continue. ResponsibleOhio's plan will take critical steps forward by eliminating the injustices of draconian marijuana laws."
Friday, the Ohio Ballot Board approved ResponsibleOhio's amendment. The campaign now must collect the 306,000 signatures required to qualify for the November ballot.
If voters approve the language, the measure would limit the commercial growth of marijuana to 10 sites around the state, which would be owned by the investors paying for the ballot campaign. Three of those sites would be in Hamilton, Butler and Clermont counties.
Lydia Bolander, spokeswoman for ResponsibleOhio, said Wednesday the Taft brothers "will be part owners of the facility in Butler County."
"My understanding of this is that they got involved through some mutual connections with people who are already involved (in the campaign)," Bolander said. "They think this is an urgent need. They're sort of coming together because of numerous factors. They care about the social and economic well being of the state."
The Butler County farm would be located on 40 acres in Middletown, northwest of the intersection of Todhunter and Yankee roads. The site is about 1.5 miles northwest of Monroe Senior High School.
Bolander said she would not discuss the amount of the Taft investment or whether the Tafts are contributing to the ballot campaign. "They're part owners of the company that would be managing the Butler County facility. And we will report any contributions as we are required to" under election law.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Tafts would own marijuana farm
Author: Anne Saker
Contact: asaker@enquirer.com
Photo Credit: cincinnati.com
Website: Cincinnati Enquirer
