Pubdate: Wed, 22 May 2013
Source: Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Copyright: 2013 Morning Journal
Contact:  http://www.morningjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3569
Author: Jessica James

ONE SINGLE ISSUE OR TWO

Ohio Cannabis Amendment to Face First Obstacle

COLUMBUS - Supporters of the right to use medical marijuana in Ohio 
will undergo their first legislative hurdle Thursday as the Ohio 
Ballot Board plans to discuss if the Ohio Rights Cannabis Amendment 
contains one issue or two. Approval is needed from the ballot board 
before petitioners can continue pursuing signatures to get the issue 
on the ballot.

Last week, Attorney General Mike DeWine approved the 2,000 signatures 
submitted by the Ohio Rights Group, an initiative to legalize the use 
of medical marijuana for qualified people and allow farmers to grow 
industrial hemp.

The Ohio Ballot Board meets Thursday to discuss whether the Ohio 
Rights Cannabis Amendment will be considered one single issue or two 
separate issues, medical marijuana and industrial hemp.

If it's determined there two issues, the Ohio Ballot Board will 
divide the initiative into two constitutional amendment.

The ORG would then need to resubmit summaries and signatures for each 
amendment to the attorney general for recertification.

"The Ohio Ballot Board is a standard meeting for any group trying to 
get an issue on the state ballot," said ORG president John Pardee. 
"I'm confident our legal team has put together one issue freeing the 
entire cannabis plant."

The ORG will need to collect valid 385,000 signatures by July from 
registered Ohio voters to place the amendment on the November ballot.

While Pardee isn't sure the ORG will be able to obtain the required 
signatures for the November 2013 election, he is confident the Ohio 
Cannabis Rights Amendment will pass in 2014.

"I personally promise you it will be on the ballot in 2014," Pardee 
said. "I'm staking my personal reputation on this issue."

Petitioners must also collect signatures in at least 44 of Ohio's 88 
counties, according to Secretary of State Jon Husted.

Whatever the outcome of Thursday's meeting, Pardee said DeWine's 
approval signifies a small step in a long journey ahead.

"We realized we have reached base camp," Pardee said. "This was an 
important first step and now we have a very historic mountain to 
climb. This is finally going to happen for Ohio."

Pardee said after receiving approval from the Ohio Ballot Board, the 
ORG plans to campaign across the state, stopping in retirement and 
veterans homes.

"A lot of it comes down to education," Pardee said. "Many votes can 
be overturned and that's what we are going to do in the next few 
months. Once they understand the science and the medical benefits 
behind cannabis they'll become more comfortable."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom