Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
A state elections panel today unanimously threw out a case alleging that people now involved with the organization believed to be most likely to get a marijuana legalization question on the November ballot conspired to infiltrate a competing effort.
Because neither has yet been certified for the ballot, the Ohio Elections Commission decided it has no jurisdiction in the dispute.
"Responsible Ohio was successful in infiltrating and disrupting the organization (of competing Ohio Rights Group)," said attorney Tricia Sprankle. "They got together long before Responsible Ohio filed with the secretary of state in 2014. They were actively seeking fundraising and putting together their team months before that."
Ohio Rights Group has been pushing a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize medical marijuana and industrial hemp since 2013. It has been working to gather the roughly 306,000 minimum signatures of registered voters needed to qualify for the ballot, but has yet to file petitions. It is not expected to do so this year.
The more recent but better funded Responsible Ohio is on the streets with its own plan to legalize marijuana for recreational, medical, and commercial purposes. That plan includes writing 10 specific growing operations, including one in Toledo, into the Ohio Constitution.
It hopes to meet the July 1 deadline to qualify for the Nov. 3 ballot.
Don McTigue, attorney for the four Responsible Ohio people accused of infiltrating the Ohio Rights Group, labeled the claim a "conspiracy theory" and "fantasy." He noted that Responsible Ohio didn't exist until its incorporation with the secretary of state's office until June 12, 2014.
"There is no ballot issue, plain and simple," he said. "There is a petition being circulated by the Ohio Rights Group to collect signatures. ... They hope to one day file those petitions, hope one day the secretary of state and (county) boards of elections will determine they have sufficient ballot signatures, and hopefully be certified for the ballot. That day isn't here. That day may never come."
Part of the reason the group hasn't reached that point, according to Ms. Sprankle, is because of the actions of Ian James, now director of Responsible Ohio, and three others that had worked with Ohio Rights Group but now work for Responsible Ohio.
Mr. James has run several high-profile signature gathering campaigns, including more recent efforts to undo Ohio's gay marriage ban and write a voters' bill of rights into the Constitution.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Full Article: Ohio elections panel throws out case between marijuana groups - Toledo Blade
Author: Jim Provance
Contact: jprovance@theblade.com
Photo Credit: https://www.420magazine.com/gallery/data/1412/14476.jpg
Website: Home - Toledo Blade
Because neither has yet been certified for the ballot, the Ohio Elections Commission decided it has no jurisdiction in the dispute.
"Responsible Ohio was successful in infiltrating and disrupting the organization (of competing Ohio Rights Group)," said attorney Tricia Sprankle. "They got together long before Responsible Ohio filed with the secretary of state in 2014. They were actively seeking fundraising and putting together their team months before that."
Ohio Rights Group has been pushing a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize medical marijuana and industrial hemp since 2013. It has been working to gather the roughly 306,000 minimum signatures of registered voters needed to qualify for the ballot, but has yet to file petitions. It is not expected to do so this year.
The more recent but better funded Responsible Ohio is on the streets with its own plan to legalize marijuana for recreational, medical, and commercial purposes. That plan includes writing 10 specific growing operations, including one in Toledo, into the Ohio Constitution.
It hopes to meet the July 1 deadline to qualify for the Nov. 3 ballot.
Don McTigue, attorney for the four Responsible Ohio people accused of infiltrating the Ohio Rights Group, labeled the claim a "conspiracy theory" and "fantasy." He noted that Responsible Ohio didn't exist until its incorporation with the secretary of state's office until June 12, 2014.
"There is no ballot issue, plain and simple," he said. "There is a petition being circulated by the Ohio Rights Group to collect signatures. ... They hope to one day file those petitions, hope one day the secretary of state and (county) boards of elections will determine they have sufficient ballot signatures, and hopefully be certified for the ballot. That day isn't here. That day may never come."
Part of the reason the group hasn't reached that point, according to Ms. Sprankle, is because of the actions of Ian James, now director of Responsible Ohio, and three others that had worked with Ohio Rights Group but now work for Responsible Ohio.
Mr. James has run several high-profile signature gathering campaigns, including more recent efforts to undo Ohio's gay marriage ban and write a voters' bill of rights into the Constitution.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Full Article: Ohio elections panel throws out case between marijuana groups - Toledo Blade
Author: Jim Provance
Contact: jprovance@theblade.com
Photo Credit: https://www.420magazine.com/gallery/data/1412/14476.jpg
Website: Home - Toledo Blade
