Ohio group pushes ahead to get pot question on 2016 ballots

The Ohio House formally launched a new task force January 14 to study whether the state should legalize marijuana for medical purposes.

Ohio House leaders announced plans Thursday for a comprehensive review of medical marijuana, while disclosing that backers of an effort to purge old pot-related convictions are withdrawing their proposal from legislative consideration.

Other members include Jimmy Gould, a founder of ResponsibleOhio, and Chris Stock, an attorney involved with ResponsibleOhio who has advocated for marijuana legalization.

“When you lose, you get back up on your feet and take the best path that’s available to you”, Gould said.

The future of marijuana in OH has been facing uncertainty since last fall, after the overwhelming defeat of a separate effort to legalize cannabis for both medical and recreational use in a single vote.

Schuring told reporters it was “premature” to say if the group would rule on whether OH should legalize medical marijuana.

The task force will include representatives of medical, business and labor groups, former Attorney General Betty Montgomery, Rep. Dan Ramos (D-Lorain) and Muskingum County Sheriff Matthew Lutz. I’m going to try to figure out what are the best ways for us to proceed. Polls have shown strong support in Ohio.

“The fact that they invited us to do it is an indication they want everybody heard”, he said”.

The Jan. 21 press conference came a day after another group submitted the initial paperwork to place a medical marijuana amendment before voters. Gould said legalization needs to happen first.

Nationally, 23 states have legalized marijuana in some form.

The Senate will soon start forums in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo, where Sens. Dates and times are being finalized. The measure, Issue 3, would have established 10 sites with exclusive authority to grow marijuana, and with profits going to the issue’s deep-pocketed investors.