Pubdate: Sun, 19 Apr 2015
Source: Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Copyright: 2015 Morning Journal
Contact:  http://www.morningjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3569
Author: Richard Payerchin
Page: A1

PORTMAN DISCUSSES MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION, FAIR TRADE

Legalizing marijuana will not help Ohio deal with the problem of drug
abuse, said Sen. Rob Portman.

The Cincinnati Republican spent April 17 in northern Ohio on multiple
visits before heading to Lorain, where he was to deliver the keynote
address for the Lorain County Republican Party's annual Lincoln Day
Dinner.

Portman discussed a number of issues as part of an afternoon visit to
The Morning Journal.

If Ohioans vote to legalize marijuana, Lorain could become one of 10
cities around the state to house a growing and processing facility for
the plants.

Portman said he is not in favor of legalization.

Now an advocate for social re-entry programs for convicted offenders,
Portman said he first came to learn about prisoner re-entry by working
with drug use prevention efforts. In his hometown, Portman said he
also has worked with local coalition to reduce drug use through
education and prevention.

"I think we have a lot of work to do there and can do much more,"
Portman said. "And I worry that if you legalize it, then the stigma is
gone, which all the prevention experts tell me is one of the main
reasons that young people don't use, is that they think there is
societal disapproval."

Portman said he has seen consequences and devastation of drug
abuse.

Some proponents argue marijuana does not have the same effects as
other addictive drugs, Portman said. He countered that for some people
it becomes a problem and hurts their ability to function.

Experts also say marijuana is a gateway drugs to other illegal drugs
that are incredibly damaging, Portman said. He noted Ohio's top cause
of death is opiate overdosing, largely with heroin and prescription
drugs.

"So I think rather than going down the track of just saying, heck,
let's just legalize it (marijuana), it would be better to really put
more effort and time into prevention and education and certainly
treatment," Portman said.

As for people already incarcerated, Portman said he has seen efforts
to teach job and

communication skills to inmates at the Grafton Correctional
Institution. He also cited a visit to a Columbus foundry, meeting an
ex-offender there who had a job that was leading to life with
sobriety, a house and custody of the man's son.

"The best way to get them out of a life of crime and back into
productive lives and paying taxes and taking care of the kids is to
get them a job," Portman said.

Employers should know there are great opportunities with some
ex-offenders if companies will give them chances to prove themselves,
Portman said.

Part of Portman's April 17 tour was a visit to Timken

Steel in Canton. That company recently had 52 layoffs, a fraction of
workers cut from U.S. Steel's Lorain Tubular Operations, which has
become idle due to low demand.

Portman pledged to continue the fight to keep unfairly traded imports
out of the United States and to stop other countries from manipulating
values of their currencies that make American steel expensive to buy
abroad.

He also hopes to change the trade definition of material damages so
domestic companies affected by unfair trade don't have to wait so long
for relief from trade regulators.

Portman's northern Ohio visit was not all about politics, trade and
Republican campaigns.

Today, Portman said he and his wife, Jane, will attend the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cleveland. It is a first for
the couple, he said.

When asked what performers he hoped to see, Portman answered:
"Everybody."

"You know Miley's coming," Portman added about singer Miley Cyrus, who
will present for Joan Jett & the Blackhearts' induction. The senator
also said he was looking forward to hearing The "5" Royales, who will
be inducted as an early influence on rock 'n' roll music.

"I like R&B," Portman said.
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MAP posted-by: Matt