Press Release:
Columbus OH – The Green Party of Ohio today issued our recommendations of the 3 statewide ballot issues that will be voted upon this November.
Issue 1 is the Ohio Bipartisan Redistricting Commission Amendment. While this proposal is not perfect, it is a step in the right direction. It changes the process by which state legislative districts are redrawn. This proposal does not affect apportionment of US House of Representative seats. We hope to see a proposal dealing with that issue in the future. It is our recommendation that Ohio voters PASS this proposal.
The details of this proposal can be at
http://ballotpedia.org/Ohio_Bipartisan_Redistricting_Commission_Amendment,_Issue_1_%282015%29
Issue 2 is the Ohio Initiated Monopolies Amendment. This was proposed as a result of the marijuana proposal and the casino amendment of a few years back. It creates, in essence, two ballot questions every time a constitutional amendment is considered that involves the creation of an economic monopoly. The first ballot question would ask voters to approve or deny the creation of a monopoly situation, the 2nd question would be the actual proposed amendment itself. Both questions would need to pass on election day for the monopoly to be instituted. While we see constitutionally enshrined monopolies as something to be avoided and would rather have seen an effort made to ban this practice outright, this proposal does make it more difficult for economic interests to alter the state constitution for their own profit. It is for this reason that we urge Ohio voters to PASS this proposal.
http://ballotpedia.org/Ohio_Initiated_Monopolies_Amendment,_Issue_2_%282015%29
The 3rd issue facing Ohio voters this fall is the Ohio Marijuana Legalization Initiative. We have stated, in the past, our concerns with this proposal and those concerns remain the same. While the Green Party of Ohio has always stood for the ending of the “drug war” and it’s impacts, particularly on communities of color, we cannot endorse this proposal because it enshrines into the Ohio constitution an economic monopoly that will benefit 10 pre-selected investors, while leaving in place felony charges on the the growing, possession, or sale of certain amounts marijuana by our citizens. It also does not address the potential of hemp farming, a practice which could greatly benefit Ohio’s economy.
http://ballotpedia.org/Ohio_Marijuana_Legalization_Initiative_%282015%29
Local marijuana issues, such as those in Toledo and Logan, have our support.
In summary, it is our positions that Issues 1 & 2 should be approved by the voters of Ohio, while the statewide marijuana initiative, as proposed by the group ResponsibleOhio, be defeated on election day in November.
Ohio Green Party opposes “Better for Ohio” and “Responsible Ohio” marijuana proposals.http://www.ohiogreens.org/story/ohio-green-party-opposes-better-ohio-and-responsible-ohio-marijuana-proposals
Ohio Green Party congratulates local activists for efforts regarding marijuana decriminalization.
Was there more to your message? It seems to be on topic but incomplete.
..10 Good Reasons.. by: Lawless Rebelblood.
10. Kickback.. Ohio will take the average 15% Off the top for use in each county for Safety services, Education, and Development..
9. It is written in the constitution that the Industry is to be 100% open to the public..
8. Add on Industry.. (Self explanatory.)
7. Home grows.. Each home grow will be unlimited as long as only four plants are in bloom and only 8oz is dry at one time.
6. Makes it possible to Expunge Criminal records in the future.. Everyone knows more than one guy in jail for Cannabis.. Their lives are basically ruined by the state as it is. This is their chance to start over.. How rare.
5. Prohibited packaging. The Amendment states that certain packaging that would be considered attractive to children will be prohibited..
4. Protecting small businesses.. Ohio is full of small businesses that would be run out of business if we adopted a deal like Colorado. There Car dealerships, eateries, museums, ma and pop shops and virtually all other small business has been shut down by small time growers taking over.. A regulated startup constitutionally based on Population and demand would protect them.
3. Constitutional protection.. Being in the Ohio Constitution would mean that utilizers, patients, home growers, and businesses would all be protected by the state.. Meaning the Feds would have to go though the constitution to get to you.. Other states they bust in the door whenever they want too.
2. Ending Prohibition. Is that ever bad? 60 years is way to long and we need to start moving forward..
1. Medical.. Cancer (all types), Epileptcy, crones, a.d.h.d, Alzheimer’s, autism, aids, arthritis, chronic pain, glaucoma, anxiety, depression, diaphragmatic flutter, P.T.S.D. The list goes on and on..
No way am I helping prohibition.. People don’t even know about the endocannabinoid system and it regulates every other system in the body..
It’s not a terrible idea, it’s a good idea in general, but the timing is bad. Pass 3, then pass some version of 2 next time, and get rid of the monopoly or oligopoly on marijuana as well as casinos… but stop jailing people first, that should be a priority.
Issue 2 is a terrible idea and the state wants to take are rights away!! What is so bad with the casino monopoly anyways?? I like that there is only a few casinos in the state!! Issue 3 is a no brainier vote yes on 3 and no on 2!!
^ Making the perfect the enemy of the good. Sigh…
http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/apexchange/2015/08/23/oh–ballot-issues-2015-greens.html
Good point. However, keep in mind that Ohio requires a much larger number of raw signatures to get on the ballot than Oregon. This comes into play in a variety of ways:
1) Proponents need a lot more money early on for the signature phase
2) Some people will walk away and refuse to sign because “we already voted” and won’t listen to any rebuttals or explanations
3) This demoralizes petitioners, means they are on the margin more likely to seek petition work in other states or other jobs in Ohio, and volunteers are less likely to keep working if the response is less positive as well
4) Some peope think they already signed when in fact it was a year or two earlier and some will walk away without trying to understand or een hear an explanation
5) That puts more upward pressure on price per signature, which combined with the larger number of signatures vis a vis Oregon makes it less feasible to get on again
Paulie
You state;
“Of course, we could also reintroduce a better version of 3 next time, but it will be harder to do it again after it is defeated – with or without the defects, as a lot of people will not make the fine distinctions – and in the meantime many people will be locked up, saddled with criminal histories, etc.”
This is not necessarily true about it being harder to do it again. In Oregon in 2012, when we tried to legalize marijuana along with Washington and Colorado and failed, we were told that we should wait until 2016 to try again by the National drug reform groups because the election in 2014 is not a presidential election, we wouldn’t be able to get out the younger voters and that we would lose.
As you know we in Oregon wouldn’t wait and started pushing to get another legalization measure on the ballot in 2014. The National groups seeing that we might succeed without them decided to jump in with their own measure and the rest is history.
While I agree with you that Ohio should pass Issue 3, it doesn’t mean that it will be harder to pass another issue in 2016 if this one fails.
P.S. There must be something in the water here in Oregon that turns us into assholes. Here is a link to an Oregonian newspaper article where Ethan Nadelmann of the DPA came out against the measure to legalize in Oregon in 2012.
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/09/big_pro-marijuana_donors_bypas.html
I agree regarding Issue 1, the Ohio Bipartisan Redistricting Commission Amendment. I disagree regarding Issue 3, the Ohio Marijuana Legalization Initiative. Although the oligopoly criticism is valid, I believe it is outweighed by the importance of freeing more people from cages and criminal records ASAP.
Regarding Issue 2, the Ohio Initiated Monopolies Amendment, my feelings are mixed. In general, I am all for this issue, but I think it’s pretty clear that Ohio Republicans are bringing this foreward now as a way to defeat Issue 3 (marijuana) if both issues pass. Since I think Issue 3 should pass despite its defects, I think I would prefer to defeat Issue 2 now and vote on a similar measure the next time there’s not a directly contradicting measure on the ballot that would create confusion if both pass.
Of course, we could also reintroduce a better version of 3 next time, but it will be harder to do it again after it is defeated – with or without the defects, as a lot of people will not make the fine distinctions – and in the meantime many people will be locked up, saddled with criminal histories, etc.
Totally agree with their positions on these three Ohio issues on November ballot. Kevin in Ohio.
Ohio Green Party leader Bob Fitrakis on Green Party Green TV
Bob was the Green Party Lt. Gov candidate in 2014. The Ohio Green Party won ballot status in 2014. Anita Rios was the Green Party Governor candidate. Bob Fitrakis(G) the Green Party Lt. Gov candidate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_C6xamE_qk
http://reason.com/blog/2015/08/19/ohio-initiatives-cannabis-cartel-could-d