Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
The leader of ResponsibleOhio on Thursday touted its proposal to legalize marijuana as a solution for Ohioans who consume cannabis to treat a medical condition.
But critics, including marijuana advocates, have said the group's leaders and investors are "pot profiteers," driven by a lucrative recreational marijuana market instead of helping sick Ohioans obtain medicine.
In ResponsibleOhio's plan, cannabis could be grown at only 10 sites that have been promised to campaign investors. Tax revenue from marijuana sales would fund public services, marijuana research and drug addiction treatment programs.
ResponsibleOhio Executive Director Ian James said drug dealers are making a lot of money in Ohio right now, and none of that money is benefiting the public. James said while Ohio waits to legalize, chronically ill Ohioans go without treatment.
"This isn't rhetoric - this is reality," James said at a forum sponsored by the Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland. "The reality is we've waited 18 years for the Statehouse to do something. They're incapable of doing anything with regards to medical marijuana."
James gave examples of Ohioans who have used marijuana to treat seizures and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Marcie Seidel, executive director of the Drug-Free Action Alliance, said individual stories ignore the consequences of full legalization, such as increasing youth access to the drug.
"There are a handful of people who really do need this, but we have a whole society of people out there who are going to be impacted by this policy change and not in a good way," Seidel said. "When youth think there's nothing wrong with it, they're going to increase the use of it."
Thursday's mini-debate between James and Seidel was a preview of what Ohio voters will hear in the coming months as ResponsibleOhio attempts to qualify for the November ballot. The group has raised more than $36 million from campaign backers to collect the signatures required to get on the ballot and to sell their idea to voters.
The two sparred on ResponsibleOhio's plan, the environmental impact of growing marijuana, and how medical marijuana might benefit Ohioans.
Seidel said Ohioans would abuse the two-tiered system in ResponsibleOhio's plan to buy marijuana as a medical patient, which would not be taxed like retail marijuana.
"What we're saying is we can't have the abuse at the expense of our citizens and our children," Seidel said.
Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana. Another pro-marijuana organization, Ohio Rights Group, is proposing legalizing medical marijuana and industrial hemp.
Four states - Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Alaska - have legalized marijuana for personal use. At least three other Ohio groups are working on full legalization constitutional amendments.
James called Colorado the "wild west of weed" because there are few limits on who can grow commercial cannabis. James said limiting commercial growing and home growing to four flowering plants per household would smother the black market.
Seidel said ResponsibleOhio seeks to commercialize marijuana like tobacco companies.
"These people are making big investment dollars into these facilities and they're going to expect a return on it and to expect a return on it, you're going to have to sell a lot of marijuana," Seidel said.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Legalizing marijuana would help ill Ohioans, Responsible Ohio leader says | cleveland.com
Author: Jackie Borchardt
Contact: Contact us - Cleveland.com
Photo Credit: Kirthmon F. Dozier/Detroit Free Press
Website: Cleveland OH Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - cleveland.com
But critics, including marijuana advocates, have said the group's leaders and investors are "pot profiteers," driven by a lucrative recreational marijuana market instead of helping sick Ohioans obtain medicine.
In ResponsibleOhio's plan, cannabis could be grown at only 10 sites that have been promised to campaign investors. Tax revenue from marijuana sales would fund public services, marijuana research and drug addiction treatment programs.
ResponsibleOhio Executive Director Ian James said drug dealers are making a lot of money in Ohio right now, and none of that money is benefiting the public. James said while Ohio waits to legalize, chronically ill Ohioans go without treatment.
"This isn't rhetoric - this is reality," James said at a forum sponsored by the Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland. "The reality is we've waited 18 years for the Statehouse to do something. They're incapable of doing anything with regards to medical marijuana."
James gave examples of Ohioans who have used marijuana to treat seizures and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Marcie Seidel, executive director of the Drug-Free Action Alliance, said individual stories ignore the consequences of full legalization, such as increasing youth access to the drug.
"There are a handful of people who really do need this, but we have a whole society of people out there who are going to be impacted by this policy change and not in a good way," Seidel said. "When youth think there's nothing wrong with it, they're going to increase the use of it."
Thursday's mini-debate between James and Seidel was a preview of what Ohio voters will hear in the coming months as ResponsibleOhio attempts to qualify for the November ballot. The group has raised more than $36 million from campaign backers to collect the signatures required to get on the ballot and to sell their idea to voters.
The two sparred on ResponsibleOhio's plan, the environmental impact of growing marijuana, and how medical marijuana might benefit Ohioans.
Seidel said Ohioans would abuse the two-tiered system in ResponsibleOhio's plan to buy marijuana as a medical patient, which would not be taxed like retail marijuana.
"What we're saying is we can't have the abuse at the expense of our citizens and our children," Seidel said.
Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana. Another pro-marijuana organization, Ohio Rights Group, is proposing legalizing medical marijuana and industrial hemp.
Four states - Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Alaska - have legalized marijuana for personal use. At least three other Ohio groups are working on full legalization constitutional amendments.
James called Colorado the "wild west of weed" because there are few limits on who can grow commercial cannabis. James said limiting commercial growing and home growing to four flowering plants per household would smother the black market.
Seidel said ResponsibleOhio seeks to commercialize marijuana like tobacco companies.
"These people are making big investment dollars into these facilities and they're going to expect a return on it and to expect a return on it, you're going to have to sell a lot of marijuana," Seidel said.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Legalizing marijuana would help ill Ohioans, Responsible Ohio leader says | cleveland.com
Author: Jackie Borchardt
Contact: Contact us - Cleveland.com
Photo Credit: Kirthmon F. Dozier/Detroit Free Press
Website: Cleveland OH Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - cleveland.com
