Credit: Cannabis Training University
We generally don’t get involved in reporting on the endorsement game — except for those weird instances where media conglomerates delete dubious video footage of Gov. John Kasich or a longtime foe of the ResponsibleOhio folks suddenly endorses their ballot measure.

The latter, this week: Ohio Rights Group, an organization that has championed medicinal marijuana legalization since at least 2013, has endorsed ResponsibleOhio’s Issue 3 (which is appearing on the Nov. 3 ballot). 

This is big news, because the ORG team has criticized the ResponsibleOhio team and its political approach all year. But, like others in the state, ORG top brass sees Issue 3 as a means justified by the end result of legal medical marijuana in Ohio.

From the Athens News: 

The group officers, President Mary Jane Borden and Vice President John Pardee, said that while good people can disagree about the temporary business structure the ResponsibleOhio amendment puts in place, “they all need to realize we are not likely to see an opportunity like this to end prohibition in Ohio in the foreseeable future.”

After speaking with national cannabis-reform groups, Borden and Pardee wrote, they realized Ohio is nowhere in those groups’ near-term or long-term strategic plans.


Athens-area attorney Don Wirtshafter, who had acted as ORG’s legal counsel, left the group following the decision. As he explained to the News: “Since my advice wasn’t followed, I had to leave the group. I think it’s capitulation to personal interest, is my opinion. [ORG Vice President John Pardee] really wanted to be part of this new economy, and too many people like John are worried about missing the bus in case this thing actually passes.”

This article appears in Oct 14-20, 2015.

Eric Sandy is an award-winning Cleveland-based journalist. For a while, he was the managing editor of Scene. He now contributes jam band features every now and then.

7 replies on “Ohio Rights Group Endorses Issue 3”

  2. Issue 3 is the closest Ohio has ever been to the legalizing marijuana. This issue is very important to the state for so many reasons. It will create millions in new tax revenue, 1000’s of jobs, and will help so many patients. I think that people are more concerned and tied up with the politics, than the real issues, I applaud John Pardee for all of his work and determination in striving forward with these efforts.

  3. Whenever career politicians and their cozy lobbyists try to derail a proposal through screeching tirades and weird rants concerning the decline and fall of civilization…….they are hiding the fact that there is too much transparency and practicality for their sordid tastes.

  4. I agree Jerry, I’m tired of all this this drama associated with legalization. Ohio needs to set a precedence and fight for this bill to pass. Vote Yes on 3 and No on 2.

  5. Fred even Colorado rejected the first time for it being a greedy money grab that’d locked out all of the success it’s having now. NO on 3; 2 go with your conscience (NOT your wallets!)

  6. Tom Manson,

    what are you afraid of exactly?

    you are on every post trying to make a no-argument.

    what is your argument against it? or just to spite people, how about we ban alcohol, more harm in that? what is it man?

    live and let live you brain washed backward hick.

    YES issue 3 NO issue 2

  7. You can’t vote For both Issues 2 and Issues 3; Issue 2 was written, specifically, to negate issue 2. So NO on 2, YES on 3.

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