ResponsibleOhio’s website had featured a countdown clock all week, teasing visitors with something expected to happen at noon today. The clock struck 12 o’clock, and nothing happened.
Later in the afternoon, a boilerplate press release seared across the website of the latest organization to seek the legalization of marijuana in Ohio. The news didn’t surprise us; we’ve all been generally aware of the group’s plan to get a ballot initiative before voters this November.
For the record, though, here’s what ResponsibleOhio is proposing (emphasis Scene‘s):
“ResponsibleOhio’s amendment will establish five regional marijuana testing facilities that will examine the marijuana grown at each wholesale location before it reaches the consumer,” spokesperson Lydia Bolander said. “These five facilities will ensure that marijuana grown in Ohio for personal and medical use will be subject to the strictest and safest testing regulations in the country.”
Ten growing facilities will supply all of Ohio’s legal marijuana, which will then be examined by one of five testing facilities. The testing facilities will be operated separately from both the growing locations and the retail stores.
In essence, the group suggests a legal monopoly on marijuana production. This approach mirrors 2009’s Issue 3, which ushered in legal casino gambling in four cities in Ohio.
Bolander goes on to argue: “We’ve heard too many stories of families who have lost children, siblings and loved ones because marijuana they purchased was laced with dangerous drugs like heroin or PCP. [Ed. note: No information was provided to support that claim. Most Northeast Ohio dealers are pretty cool on all that, according to, uh, local experts.] The black market is dangerous and prohibition has failed. The consumer should be confident that they are buying marijuana that is safe because it has been tested, labeled, and is being sold in sealed packaging.”
No other Ohio organization seems to be eyeing the 2015 ballot scene, so ResponsibleOhio may have something of a jump on this issue. It also helps that, per the Cleveland Leader’s reporting, the group has ties to wealth.
Other state groups are focused on 2016 efforts.
This article appears in Jan 14-20, 2015.
Horrible. Vote these idiots outta here, Ohio
bless them…legalize it already
That would be brilliant of it actually happens. Maybe the people against it will move out of the state of it does making everyone happier.
obviously, this is a substance that needs to be legalized and regulated, but the words “legal monopoly” scare me. especially because “lacing” pot is kind of a myth. people can mix their marijuana with other substances, post-purchasing, but it’s not like there’s “heroin and pcp” plants that people can breed with pot plants. and why would an independent grower do that? they know they’re going to be under some sort of scrutiny since this has been illegal for so long and the legislators need to see if it’ll work out. especially when one considers that most of the legal marijuana will be for medical purposes. what kind of pot grower is going to sell heroin to cancer patients?
For you idiots that say “brilliant”, and “bless them”, they are trying to create a CONSTITUTIONAL MONOPOLY on cannabis. There are two efforts to regulate cannabis in Ohio at this time, and this is not the one any proponent of freedom should be supporting. Read things before you support them. Be informed, not invalid.
This seems like a great idea! Legalize, but regulate. Tax it and keep that money in Ohio, and stricter regulation will solve most of the problems seen in Colorado.
This needs done and it needs done now.
We have a chance to be one of the first places in the world to have full legalization. This is how you get tourism dollars, not wait a hundred years like we did with casinos.
That’s not even to mention putting a big dent in the police state that the War on Drugs has started.
What is like to know is what has HAPPENED in Colorado? Hmmmm. Nothing. Tax dollars. Tourism revenue. This malarkey sounds like a plan put forth by businessmen that want to make the big cash turnover as quick as possible. Laced with pcp and heroin? Really. Doubtful. Sounds like a high school scare film from back in the day. Also this plan will perpetuate the black market just as bad as before if this legislation gets passed. Sounds like the right wing is behind this initiative. Sad that the money that they have to stand behind their cause will cause it to most likely be passed. Another casino debacle.
Vote no on this. Greedy people behind this
Vote no on this. Vote no to greed
This is not fair to the people of ohio. These people are just conserved with getting richer than they already are. Vote no
This is not fair to the people of ohio. These people are just concerned with getting richer than they already are. Vote no
The “War on drugs”, was a campaign too Nixon used to get re-elected he was going to save us all from the evil hippies. Like prohibition it is a miserable failure. Lets get this done and save time and money that could be better spent on law enforcement
Legal pot- Yes I am troubled by the whole “Monopoly ” though. Seems as if some rich people want to get richer after seeing the profits generated in Colorado. Maybe they will own the dipensories and their family would own the growing or testing facilities. Ohio was out in front when they made possesion of small amounts a traffic ticket. Eventually pot will be legal everywhere under federal law, so why not start here, now.
How about growing your own… Why trust some so called experts…,
PCP and heroin are the most absolute ridiculous excuses that someone should regulate this. Thats what you get from a black market. People using those things want to use, so regulated or not it will still make its way onto their weed. Anyone who grows really great weed knows that it does not need to be laced. This a ploy to put money in the pockets of a couple local businessmen, thats all. They dont give one shit about the safety of anyone, only making money.
DON’T BE FOOLED!!!!
Whether you support the use of medical cannabis or not, there is a high likelihood that it will become legal in the state of Ohio in the foreseeable future.
Big money interests are very much aware of this fact and are currently developing an Amendment to the Ohio Constitution that will allow a few powerful and wealthy individuals or corporations to
monopolize the cannabis industry in our state.
This Amendment will likely appear on the November 2015 ballot for approval by the voters of the state of Ohio and will limit the number of growers authorized to cultivate marijuana in Ohio to only 10 entities. If passed, it will deny Ohio farmers and other entrepreneurs the ability to engage in a free and open enterprise in this emergent industry.
Please don’t be fooled into voting for a Amendment because it contains language favorable to the use of recreational cannabis.
PLEASE do your homework and support the Ohio Cannabis Rights Amendment sponsored by the Ohio Rights Group.
Their Amendment will ensure that new business prospects remain accessible to all Ohioans (including those who have left the state in order to pursue business opportunities in states where medical marijuana is already legal).
It is important that we educate ourselves and others regarding the efforts of these special interest groups who want to limit the involvement in this growing industry. This Amendment can only reach the ballot with 301,000+ legitimate petition signatures.
It will ensure that all responsible Ohioans ( individual and entrepreneur ) have the ability to partake in this growing industry.
PLEASE JOIN THE CANNABIS CRUSADES IN OUR EFFORT TO HELP THE OHIO RIGHTS GROUP GET THE OHIO CANNABIS RIGHTS AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOT.
THIS IS THE AMENDMENT THAT SHOULD’VE BEEN ON THE BALLOT LAST YEAR, BUT THEY NEEDED 300K PLUS LEGITIMATE SIGNATURES.
THIS YEAR…2015 THE OHIO CANNABIS RIGHTS AMENDMENT STILL NEEDS 300K PLUS LEGITIMATE SIGNATURES TO BE PUT ON THE BALLOT FOR OHIOANS TO VOTE ON.
THESE OTHER GROUP WITH DEEP POCKETS ARE GETTING THERE AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOT WITH OUT OUR SIGNATURES.
PLEASE STAND BEHIND THE AMENDMENT THAT IS GOOD FOR ALL OHIOANS AND OUR FARMERS.
DON’T STAND BEHIND BIG MONEY INTERESTS, DON’T HELP THEM MONOPOLIZE OUR CANNABIS INDUSTRY IN OHIO. WHY DON’T THEY NEED 300K PLUS SIGNATURES TO GET THEIR AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOT. THINGS THAT MAKES YOU GO HMMM…
WE ALL KNOW WHAT MONOPOLIZING HAS DONE TO OUR GREAT COUNTRY, THE MIDDLE CLASS AND THE POOR ENDS UP PAYING MORE.
DON’T LET THE 1% HAVE THERE WAY. THEY WANT TO VACUME WHAT LITTLE CASH THE MIDDLE CLASS AND THE POOR HAVE LEFT, AND PUT IN THEIR POCKETS.
WE NEED TO SHOW THEM POWER TO THE PEOPLE STILL RUNS THIS GREAT COUNTRY!!!
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
So terrible.
I really hope the people of Ohio don’t allow this crap to pass, as it will set a dangerous precedent. The powers that be realize that legalization is becoming an inevitability, so now they want to act like they’re suddenly on the side of the people. And they’re essentially saying “Well we’ll let you have your marijuana…but only if it makes us alone rich. If not, **** you, we won’t legalize it.”. Say no to these greedy leeches Ohio, pass YOUR OWN marijuana reform!
Some of these comments are a little disheartening…are people not reading in to what’s going on here with these corporatist trying to monopolize the industry before it even begins? It’s like they’re just seeing “Marijuana legalized” and automatically supporting it. There are other ways to get it legalized…saying no to this isn’t saying no to legalization, it’s saying no to greed and monopolization of the industry. LEGALIZE MARIJUANA ON YOUR OWN TERMS, NOT THERE TERMS. You do not need their approval, nor do you need to follow their plan in order to have it legalized, as I’m sure they’re trying to convince you that you do. I know it’s tempting to just say **** it and accept that you’ll have access to weed…but you are soooooooo close to having this done the right way…please read into the facts of this before you vote.
Responsible Ohio (RO), would create a marijuana monopoly – much like the current Ohio casino monopoly – granting the exclusive right to cultivate cannabis to a conglomerate of ONLY 10 companies / investors. This shameful attempt to create a de facto cartel cannot be tolerated. This group has practically stolen the name of the group I will be supporting – Responsible Ohioans for Cannabis. RO has created a name so similar so that they can confuse the public into supporting the wrong group. RO has the backing of big business so they have a flashy website, paid signature gatherers, and will most certainly have a massive ad campaign this year.
Responsible Ohio (RO) is the big business monopoly of 10 growers, with NO personal / home cultivation exemption.
Responsible Ohioans for Cannabis (ROC) is a political action committee that was started by average Ohio citizens and they are in desperate need of volunteers to collect signatures. The amendment would allow personal cultivation with permission of land owner, commercial cultivation with fees imposed, standard sales tax, amnesty for marijuana convictions, etc. The ROC amendment has the potential to be the most progressive marijuana law in the nation.
Please support Responsible Ohioans for Cannabis – http://responsibleohioans.org/
Responsible Ohio is doing an amazing job these will be the guys who get it done!