Pubdate: Sat, 31 Oct 2015
Source: Delphos Herald, The (OH)
Copyright: 2015 Delphos Herald
Contact: (419)692-7704
Website: http://www.delphosherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4936
Author: Steven Coburn-Griffis

NFIB REP ARGUES 'NO' VOTE ON ISSUE 3

DELPHOS - While unabashedly critical of Issue 3, an Optimist
Club-sponsored presentation on Ohio's marijuana legalization
initiative gave attendees on both sides of the proposal a little
something to put in their pipes and smoke. Held at the Top Chalet, the
evening's featured speaker was Roger Geiger, vice president and Ohio
executive director of the National Federation of Independent Business.

In introducing Geiger, Optimist Club President Kevin Wieging said,
"Our purpose here tonight as an Optimists Club is to present the
information. We're not persuading or telling anyone how to vote; we
just want the facts out there. A lot of times you read on Facebook or
see in the media things that are not entirely true."

For his part, though, Geiger was clear in his purpose from the outset,
having handed out to all participants a packet of information
emblazoned in red with the words "YES on 2! & NO on 3!"

"As we looked at this from a business perspective, the more we
analyzed and discovered what was there, I think you'll see why there
are a lot of concerns with the proposal as it's being presented."

Geiger went on to discuss Ohio's referendum process, the means by
which citizens can bypass the legislature and place initiatives, such
as Issue 3, on the ballot for a vote of the people. This was put in
place in the early 1800s, he said, to reduce the influence of
monopolies and cartels on the legislature and present the public with
a greater opportunity to self-govern. Ironically, this very safeguard,
as Geiger explained it, has created the very environment it sought to
suppress.

Geiger's concern is one shared by a number of other organizations,
including some that have worked for decades to secure the legalization
of marijuana in Ohio and throughout the country. As written,
ResponsibleOhio's initiative allows for only 10 wholesale growth and
manufacturing sites within the state, with one possible future site
permissible should demand prove expansion necessary. These sites have
already been chosen and listed within the legislation by plat number.
Each of these sites are associated with one of 10 investors in the
effort.

"They've created a perfect monopoly, oligarchy, cartel, whatever name
you want to use," Geiger said. "They have, in the fine print of this,
they have literally walled themselves off unlike any other business
entity in the state, with the exception of one and that was casino
gambling."

Geiger's other concerns included a belief that such a proposal should
come through legislatively rather than as a constitutional amendment;
that some of the potential products containing THC, the chemical in
marijuana responsible for the "high", mimic children's treats, such as
cookies and brownies and candy; that "personal use" provisions could
potentially create a booming black market; and that marijuana remains
a controlled substance at the federal level, creating a slew of
conflicts for business and industries in those states that have
legalized pot.

And then there are the tax stipulations. According to Geiger, the
initiative's investors would pay no income tax, no commercial activity
tax and a simple five percent gross receipts tax.

"Even the casino gambling people weren't that audacious," he said.
"They at least did 33 percent."

A review of the language in the proposed amendment, however, tells a
different story. While retail stores would pay a flat five percent
tax, marijuana growing and manufacturing facilities would pay a flat
15 percent tax. In addition, marijuana growing and manufacturing
facilities and retail stores would be required to pay "all other local
taxes, assessments, fees and charges as apply to businesses in
general," including the state commercial activity tax.

While acknowledging the concerns about restricting free-market
sensibilities as they were presented, one attendee expressed his
support for legalizing pot with an argument frequently heard in the 23
states and the District of Columbia that legalized marijuana in one
form or another.

"I think it's ridiculous that we're filling up our prisons with
non-violent offenders for marijuana offenses," commented Scott Cook.
"Heroin is a much bigger problem and legalizing marijuana would free
up law enforcement to take care of that."

Ohio's Issue 3, the Marijuana Legalization Inititiative, will appear
on Tuesday's ballot.
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MAP posted-by: Matt