Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
A petition campaign to legalize marijuana use in Ohio and create 10 growing sites, including one in Toledo, received a setback Monday when language in the group's summary of its proposed constitutional amendment was rejected by Ohio Attorney General Mike De-Wine.
Mr. DeWine found two flaws in the summary of an earlier version of the amendment proposed by the organization ResponsibleOhio.
A spokesman for the group said the amendment summary will be revised to accommodate the attorney general's objections.
The plan by ResponsibleOhio would allow the use of marijuana by adults 21 and older and establish 10 constitutionally sanctioned facilities to grow marijuana to supply a retail industry that would package and sell the marijuana.
The first petition was submitted to Mr. DeWine for his legal review Feb. 13, but the backers announced a few days later that they were starting over with a revised plan that would include a provision allowing individuals to grow up to four plants. The group hopes to get a question on the Nov. 3 ballot to make Ohio one of the states allowing medical and recreational use of marijuana.
The two defects found by Mr. DeWine are that the summary language omits that the proposed amendment permits the sharing of specified amounts of marijuana between adults 21 years old and older. In addition, the language does not accurately reflect the manner in which proposed taxes would be distributed, Mr. DeWine's office said.
ResponsibleOhio spokesman Lydia Bolander said the petition can easily be updated since a revised version of the summary has not yet been submitted to Mr. DeWine.
"We haven't submitted the second version yet, so it will not be a problem to adapt to the AG's feedback," Ms. Bolander said. "It's not unusual for there to be edits to the summary language.
"By identifying two minor changes to our proposal, the AG has given us specific feedback that we will address. We have officially requested that the attorney general's office notify us of any unspoken or unwritten issues with the language that he believes need be addressed.
"ResponsibleOhio's goal is to let Ohioans decide this issue, on their own, either this year or next," she said.
To be submitted, a proposed petition must have at least 1,000 valid signatures. After approval by the attorney general, it must garner more than 305,000 valid signatures to be placed on the ballot.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Marijuana legalization campaign hits setback - Toledo Blade
Author: Tom Troy
Contact: tomtroy@theblade.com
Photo Credit: ResponsibleOhio
Website: Home - Toledo Blade
Mr. DeWine found two flaws in the summary of an earlier version of the amendment proposed by the organization ResponsibleOhio.
A spokesman for the group said the amendment summary will be revised to accommodate the attorney general's objections.
The plan by ResponsibleOhio would allow the use of marijuana by adults 21 and older and establish 10 constitutionally sanctioned facilities to grow marijuana to supply a retail industry that would package and sell the marijuana.
The first petition was submitted to Mr. DeWine for his legal review Feb. 13, but the backers announced a few days later that they were starting over with a revised plan that would include a provision allowing individuals to grow up to four plants. The group hopes to get a question on the Nov. 3 ballot to make Ohio one of the states allowing medical and recreational use of marijuana.
The two defects found by Mr. DeWine are that the summary language omits that the proposed amendment permits the sharing of specified amounts of marijuana between adults 21 years old and older. In addition, the language does not accurately reflect the manner in which proposed taxes would be distributed, Mr. DeWine's office said.
ResponsibleOhio spokesman Lydia Bolander said the petition can easily be updated since a revised version of the summary has not yet been submitted to Mr. DeWine.
"We haven't submitted the second version yet, so it will not be a problem to adapt to the AG's feedback," Ms. Bolander said. "It's not unusual for there to be edits to the summary language.
"By identifying two minor changes to our proposal, the AG has given us specific feedback that we will address. We have officially requested that the attorney general's office notify us of any unspoken or unwritten issues with the language that he believes need be addressed.
"ResponsibleOhio's goal is to let Ohioans decide this issue, on their own, either this year or next," she said.
To be submitted, a proposed petition must have at least 1,000 valid signatures. After approval by the attorney general, it must garner more than 305,000 valid signatures to be placed on the ballot.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Marijuana legalization campaign hits setback - Toledo Blade
Author: Tom Troy
Contact: tomtroy@theblade.com
Photo Credit: ResponsibleOhio
Website: Home - Toledo Blade
