Pubdate: Wed, 09 Sep 2015
Source: News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Copyright: 2015 The News-Herald
Contact:  http://www.news-herald.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/305
Author: Matthew Skrajner

MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION TOUR COMES TO TOWN

A group striving for the legalization of marijuana in Ohio made a 
stop in Painesville on Sept. 8, but not everyone there was happy to see them.

ResponsibleOhio's Green Rush Bus Tour parked outside of the Lake 
County Courthouse to provide passers-by with information about the 
Marijuana Legalization Amendment, which will be Issue 3 on the ballot 
on Nov. 3 and if passed would legalize medical and personal marijuana 
use for Ohioans who are at least 21 years old.

Citizens with a license also would be able to grow a limited number 
of marijuana plants on their own for personal use.

"It gets people's attention and starts the conversation," Haley 
Phillippi, spokeswoman for the Green Rush Bus Tour, said of the large 
green and white bus. "We're really happy with the interest level we've seen."

The tour will hit all 88 Ohio counties as well as 20 college campuses 
by election day. The bus started Sept. 8 in Chardon and would end the 
day in Ashtabula.

Phillippi also claimed that marijuana legalization would be 
beneficial for Ohio's economy, bringing in millions in tax dollars 
and creating jobs.

About a dozen people stopped by the bus during the hour in 
Painesville, and most of them seemed to be in favor of the amendment.

Members of the bus tour handed out literature and answered questions.

John Kangas, 60, of Fairport Harbor, said passage of the amendment 
does not matter too much to him, but he was probably going to vote 
for the amendment and wanted to check out the bus tour to learn more 
about the issue. "I didn't really know that marijuana had any medical 
benefits," Kangas said.

Chris Devlin, 60, from Painesville, said he is in favor of the issue 
because of the proposed medical benefits.

"Issue 3 should be done state by state. It's time we bring it to 
Ohio," Devlin said. "Many people can benefit from it, especially with 
medical conditions. The top three conditions that it helps the most 
are skin, depression and circulation."

He added that he is definitely voting in favor of legalization.

"Hopefully it makes more peace between the police community and 
users," Devlin said.

Opponents of the amendment have criticized ResponsibleOhio's plan for 
creating a monopoly that would only allow 10 already chosen marijuana 
farms. Another amendment, known as the anti-monopoly amendment, also 
will be on November's ballot and would seemingly conflict with Issue 
3. The anti-monopoly amendment would prohibit a "constitutional 
amendment that would grant a monopoly, oligopoly, or cartel, specify 
or determine a tax rate, or confer a commercial interest, right, or 
license to any person or nonpublic entity."

Phillippi said Issue 3 would not create anything close to a monopoly.

"All 10 companies will be competing against one another," she said, 
adding that more than 1,000 retail businesses will be able to sell marijuana.

Mary Greig of Painesville came to the bus near the end of its 
Painesville stop and was very vocally against marijuana legalization.

"What are you responsible for?" Greig asked. "To kill people? To 
muddle their brains?"

She also said that more people are overdosing on drugs every day and 
marijuana legalization will only lead more people to try drugs.

"Please, people, vote against this horrible thing that's killing 
young people," Greig said.

John Sebring of Painesville Township disagreed with her on the issue, 
but the two were able to end their argument amicably.

"Everybody's entitled to their opinions," Sebring said.

Staff Writer Tawana Roberts contributed to this report.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom