Ohio to Vote on Weed Legalization
Ohio, typically known for harsh winters, LeBron James, and farms, may get a breath of fresh air and join the states of Washington and Colorado on the vanguard of a movement to legalize marijuana.
The Dayton Daily News reports that an initiative regarding the legalization of marijuana will be put before Ohio voters in November as campaigners amassed the necessary signatures to get the issue put on the statewide ballot.
A pro-legalization group known as ResponsibleOhio collected the needed 305,591 signatures and received a certification letter from Ohio's Secretary of State, Jon Husted. The law would allow medical use, purchase from licensed shops, possession of up to an ounce, and growing up to eight plants on private property.
The majority of the marijuana will supposedly come from 10 weed factories owned by the investors who spearheaded the petition drive.
Not everyone is on board, however. The Dayton Chamber of Commerce has already begun to organize against the initiative and is forming a coalition of businesses and organizations that oppose legalization.
WHIO reports that supporters of the bill already have a war chest of $20 million to back the campaign effort and another $20 million to acquire land for storefronts and grow operations. The supporters also say they are in the process of getting $200-300 million in financing for the grow and retail operations.
