ResponsibleOhio Makes an Important Change to Its Marijuana Ballot Proposal to Allow Home Growing

Much of the consternation over ResponsibleOhio’s proposed ballot amendment in Ohio to legalize medical marijuana and industrial cultivation had centered on its initial position that would have allowed only 10 sites around the state operated by a handful of investors to legally grow and commercially sell the drug. It reminded many of Dan Gilbert and company’s amendment that legalized gambling in Ohio but only for two companies. It was a monopolistic idea, and if the state were to finally join the ranks of others around the country to make the move to legal weed, many argued, including us, it should do so in the best and most egalitarian way possible.

Which is why the group has changed course, as they announced today, to a plan that better mirrors well-established policies in laws in states like Oregon.

The short and long of it is this: the new ballot language would allow for home growing. Via Cleveland.com:

Pro-pot group ResponsibleOhio announced Tuesday it plans to allow adults age 21 and older to grow marijuana at home in a revised proposal to legalize the drug in Ohio for personal and medical use.

The group also plans to lower its proposed tax rate at retail locations from 15 percent to 5 percent.

“After extensive conversations with experts and concerned citizens across the state and nation, ResponsibleOhio has decided to include regulated and limited home growing as a part of our amendment,” ResponsibleOhio Spokesperson Lydia Bolander said in a press release. “Combined with a lower tax rate for consumers, these changes will make our communities safer by smothering the black market.”

The group is in the midst of its signature-gathering phase with the updated language, which will then be submitted to Mike DeWine’s office, before further signature-gathering fun in order to certify the amendment for November. This is a huge nice step in the right direction.

This article appears in Feb 11-17, 2015.