Greens & Libertarians Join SAM, Manufacturers Association, Behavioral Health Authorities, and Hospitals To Oppose Amendment
(COLUMBUS, CA) – Ohioans Against Marijuana Monopolies, a diverse coalition of citizens, launched its campaign to defeat Issue 3, a proposed Constitutional amendment to create a marijuana monopoly. The event was held at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus.
Issue 3 would cement in the Constitution a billion-dollar marijuana monopoly for a small group of wealthy investors, giving them exclusive rights to commercial marijuana profits in Ohio, and insulating them from any business competition or act of the Legislature. The investors who wrote Issue 3 set their own preferential tax rates directly into the Constitution – rates that can’t be changed by the Legislature like those on beer, wine, and tobacco.
“This proposed amendment is bad public policy,” said Steve Hirsch, president of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. “No business should be able to use the Constitution to guarantee its business. It is also unwise and likely costly to create a state law that is in conflict with federal law.”
Issue 3 would also put Ohio children at risk by legalizing marijuana-infused products like candy and cookies. The proposal offers no safety precautions or restrictions on these marijuana “edibles,” which often have dangerously high levels of THC, and are highly tempting to children, including very young children.
“We are concerned that making marijuana legally available to adults will result in increased access for teens and children, as well as causing teens to believe legalization equates to ‘safe,'” said Dr. Sarah Denny, attending pediatric physician at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and executive board member of the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “We know that marijuana can impair memory and concentration in adolescents, as well as interfere with learning, motor control, coordination and judgment. We also know that regular use is linked to psychological problems, issues with lung health and a higher likelihood of drug dependence in adulthood.”
Proponents of Issue 3 imply that the measure allows small amounts of marijuana for recreational use. In reality, it allows every adult age 21 or over in the state the right to possess as much as 9 ounces (more than half a pound) of marijuana – enough for about 500 average-sized marijuana joints. In addition, every adult could possess four flowering marijuana plants at home. These high personal possession limits will likely result in broad exposure of children and underage high school and college students to marijuana.
Moreover, Issue 3 allows for as many as 1,159 retail marijuana stores – that’s more locations than Starbucks or McDonalds, and nearly three times the number of state liquor stores.
“Anecdotally, not one of our clients hasn’t told us that they started with marijuana, or used marijuana during the course of their addiction,” said Bill Denihan, CEO of Cuyahoga County ADAMHS Board. “We see it every day.”
“Issue 3 is a good example of a few businesses putting their interests ahead of the interests of our kids and of our communities,” said Reverend Benjamin F. Gohlstin, Sr., pastor of Heritage Institutional Baptist Church & CEO of Ministerial Crisis Center, and board president of Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland. “We need to oppose Issue 3 to prevent long-term corrosive impacts in communities across Ohio.”
The growing coalition includes Democrats and Republicans, children’s health advocates, hospitals, doctors, addiction counselors, faith leaders, mental health professionals, parents, educators, law enforcement officials, farmers, chambers of commerce and leading business groups, all of whom urge Ohioans to vote NO on Issue 3 this November.
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Learn more at www.NoIssue3.com.
Twitter: @NoOnIssue3
Facebook: www.facebook.com/noonissue3
Who opposes Issue 3?
Among the growing list of those who have publicly voiced opposition to Issue 3 are:
Ohio Children’s Hospital Association
Ohio Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County
Buckeye State Sheriffs’ Association
Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce
Dayton Regional Employers Against Marijuana (DREAM)
Drug Free Action Alliance
Greater Cleveland Partnership
Council of Small Enterprises
Green Party of Ohio
Libertarian Party of Ohio
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities
Ohio Council of Behavioral Healthcare Providers
Ohio Council of Retail Merchants
Ohio Farm Bureau Federation
Ohio Manufacturers’ Association
Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association
Ohio State Medical Association
Prevent Blindness Ohio Affiliate
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Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) has four main goals:
* To inform public policy with the science of today’s marijuana.
* To prevent the establishment of “Big Marijuana” – and a 21st-Century tobacco industry that would market marijuana to children.
* To promote research of marijuana’s medical properties and produce, non-smoked, non-psychoactive pharmacy-attainable medications.
* To have an adult conversation about reducing the unintended consequences of current marijuana policies, such as lifelong stigma due to arrest.
About SAM
SAM is a nonpartisan alliance of lawmakers, scientists and other concerned citizens who want to move beyond simplistic discussions of “incarceration versus legalization” when discussing marijuana use and instead focus on practical changes in marijuana policy that neither demonizes users nor legalizes the drug.