Top 6 Reasons Why Pot Smokers Should Vote For Responsibleohio

[bobandtorey]

This may seem like a strange post for most of Huffington Post's readers. Why wouldn't someone who smokes pot want Ohio to legalize marijuana in 2015? If you ask some marijuana activists, they'll sum it up in two words: constitutional cartel.

See, ResponsibleOhio, the group that may pass marijuana legalization in Ohio before California does it next year, raised the money to get on the ballot by promising only the ten investor groups that ponied up will get to run the ten constitutionally-defined commercial marijuana farms.

That has some true believers screaming "oligopoly!" and vowing to defeat Ohio's first-ever viable marijuana legalization proposal. But here are the six reasons why smart pot smokers will vote to pass legalization this November in Ohio.

The Good Stuff is on Par With Other Legal States, or Better

Under ResponsibleOhio, adults could possess one ounce of marijuana in public, grow four marijuana plants at home, and possess eight ounces at home. One ounce possession is standard in all the legalized states, four plants is Oregon's limit, three mature plants is Colorado's, and no home grow is allowed in Washington. There will also be a commercial grow system supplying retail shops, processors, and extractors, with all products tested by labs.

Even better, ResponsibleOhio defines hashish and extracts within its one ounce (28.4 grams) legal possession limit. Currently, possession of just ten grams of extract in Ohio is a felony that gets our consumer a year in prison and a $2,500 fine. Five grams will get our consumer a 30-day misdemeanor and less than five grams gets our consumer the same minor misdemeanor currently set for up to 100 grams of herb.

Decriminalization Still Means Punishing Pot Smokers

Today in Ohio, possession of up to 100 grams (3.5 ounces) is a minor misdemeanor. This is popularly called decriminalization, and NORML's website says that "a minor misdemeanor does not create a criminal record in Ohio."

So today, our consumer caught with personal amounts of weed is going to be fined $150, and another $150 for paraphernalia, and lose driving privileges for at least six months. That same punishment exists for sharing 20 grams or less with an adult friend. Get caught sharing a second time and you get 30 days in jail; share more than 20 grams and you're looking at a felony with a year in prison.

But when ResponsibleOhio passes, an ounce of marijuana is legal. That means our consumer can use paraphernalia and share up to an ounce with adult friends with no penalty whatsoever. I also find nothing in the amendment that revokes the current Ohio minor misdemeanor for amounts between an ounce and 100 grams.

Currently under Ohio law, cultivation is treated as possession, with the weight of your plants triggering the punishment. So, if our consumer has little seedlings weighing less than 3.5 ounces total, it's a minor misdemeanor. 7 ounces worth of planta is a 30-day misdemeanor. Over 7 ounces in plants is a felony that ranges from 6 months to 8 years, depending on total plant weight. When ResponsibleOhio passes, you can get a home grow license for $50 and grow four plants of any size.

It's The Best Medical Marijuana Law East of the Rockies

ResponsibleOhio creates medical marijuana, too. There will be not-for-profit Medical Marijuana Dispensaries ("MMD") that serve patients. The typical eight conditions will qualify -- cancer, HIV+/AIDS, glaucoma, and conditions causing cachexia, spasms, seizures, nausea, and pain -- as well as PTSD, Crohn's, Hep C, and sickle-cell that are only covered in a few of the 23 medical marijuana states. Patients will be able to grow their own medicine, something forbidden in eleven medical marijuana states. Patients will be able to smoke or vaporize marijuana, something forbidden in the last three states to have passed medical marijuana. Medical marijuana wouldn't be taxed, it must be sold at lowest wholesale price, and taxes from recreational marijuana would help fund a program to provide medicine to the indigent. 

It would be the most liberal medical marijuana law passed since Michigan's in 2008, even allowing patients to administer their medicine at their workplace, which no other state has allowed! It would create a medical marijuana program with more qualifying conditions than Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and Alaska; greater cultivation allowances than Colorado and Washington; and greater home possession allowances than Washington and Alaska and equal to Oregon.

Police Don't Want You to Take Away Their Easy Probable Cause

You can bet that the police, sheriffs, and state cops will be fighting against marijuana legalization in Ohio. It's no wonder, since passing ResponsibleOhio removes many of the probable causes cops use to bust people for weed. When ResponsibleOhio passes, an ounce of marijuana is legal. That means it is no longer contraband, which means the smell or sight of it is no longer a probable cause for police to begin detaining and searching our consumer in the first place. It means pot-sniffing dogs get retired, just like in Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. The various clues revealing cannabis production - a skunky smell, trips to the grow shop, purchases of lights, stems and leaves in the garbage, electric bills, infrared scans, etc. - are no longer probable cause for cops to obtain search warrants.

The results of legalization in Washington and Colorado were that charges for ALL marijuana crimes dropped by 63% and 80%, respectively (more in Colorado because home growing is legal).

It's Better than the Cartel You're Dealing With Now

Some people are upset that ResponsibleOhio restricts commercial marijuana growing to just ten entities written into the state constitution. It certainly is a stupid business plan, but it's not a valid reason to continue the punishment of marijuana consumers and home growers.

The fact is that right now, marijuana in Ohio is under the control of home growers and criminal cartels. ResponsibleOhio is going to legalize home growing and transfer commercial growing from criminal cartels to a legal business cartel. How does that make anything worse, for consumers who are now legal and have places to shop, or for illegal growers, who are no more illegal and far less likely to get caught?

These doomsayers will say it's in the constitution, it'll never be changed, you'll be stuck with ten growers forever. But c'mon, as more states legalize and the feds eventually drop prohibition, how much pressure will there be, economically and politically, to open up that market? Besides, total prohibition never stopped home growers and out-of-state growers from doing business. Limiting to ten commercial marijuana farms won't, either.

Ohio is the 2016 Presidential Election Swing State

Ohio's legalization will not occur in a vacuum. California, Nevada, and other states are waiting on deck for 2016. Will they have to fight a shift in political momentum after a fresh defeat for legalization in Ohio? Or will they cruise on the wave of legalization that saw Colorado and Washington win in 2012, Oregon and Alaska win in 2014, and Ohio win in 2015?

Legalization of marijuana in Ohio in 2015 will put the marijuana legalization issue even more strongly into the 2016 Presidential Election. That battleground swing state is the key to a Republican victory; it's been decades since the GOP won without it. A loss there in 2015 could embolden certain GOP candidates to be even tougher on existing marijuana legalization, while a victory there could force them to tone down the anti-pot rhetoric.

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/russ-belville/top-6-reasons-why-pot-smokers-should-vote-for-responsibleohio_b_7980538.html

[Restorium2]

Police Don't Want You to Take Away Their Easy Probable Cause

You can bet that the police, sheriffs, and state cops will be fighting against marijuana legalization in Ohio. It's no wonder, since passing ResponsibleOhio removes many of the probable causes cops use to bust people for weed. When ResponsibleOhio passes, an ounce of marijuana is legal. That means it is no longer contraband, which means the smell or sight of it is no longer a probable cause for police to begin detaining and searching our consumer in the first place. 

 

Not in Michigan. Our courts like cops having probable cause if marijuana is illegal in any way. As ruled by the Supreme Court.

[Restorium2]

You'll be stuck with ten growers forever...... But c'mon, as more states legalize and the feds eventually drop prohibition, how much pressure will there be, economically and politically, to open up that market? 

 

Lobbyist rule law makers. There will be a pack of super rich and powerful lobbyists supported by these ten grows. They will dictate ALL future marijuana laws to support themselves. Like a new batch of well funded private pot cops. These guys will make law enforcement look like pusssy cats. It will be like what Black Water is as compared to the military. Well funded rogues who answer to no one but their money interests. 

Edited August 14, 2015 by Restorium2

[beourbud]

Don't believe the legal-lies. As long as cannabis is in the penal code the fknrepublicans are going to leverage it against us.

 

we the people are sick of this..

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernard-noble-marijuana_55b6b838e4b0074ba5a5e160?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592&kvcommref=mostpopular

 

There is change coming. The democrats are finally getting on board with Decriminalization, and not the definition the repubs use.

Decriminalization as in No crime, no time, no fine.

 

VOTE every repub and t party puke out of office...every office from dog catcher to senator.

 

We are taking this country back from the GOP Greedy Old Psycos,

Edited August 14, 2015 by beourbud

[trichcycler]

Don't believe the legal-lies. As long as cannabis is in the penal code the fknrepublicans are going to leverage it against us.

 

we the people are sick of this..

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernard-noble-marijuana_55b6b838e4b0074ba5a5e160?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592&kvcommref=mostpopular

 

There is change coming. The democrats are finally getting on board with Decriminalization, and not the definition the repubs use.

Decriminalization as in No crime, no time, no fine.

 

VOTE every repub and t party puke out of office...every office from dog catcher to senator.

 

We are taking this country back from the GOP Greedy Old Psycos,

Do you support the MiLegalize group ?

 

peace

[t-pain]

You can't even get the regulars here to not vote repub. What makes you think you can change others minds?

 

Vote yes in ohio, at least they have home grows...

[t-pain]

Also if it passes in ohio, will speed up federal rescheduling and boost michigan vote in 2016

[bobandtorey]

And i agree

[phaquetoo]

Don't believe the legal-lies. As long as cannabis is in the penal code the fknrepublicans are going to leverage it against us.

 

we the people are sick of this..

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernard-noble-marijuana_55b6b838e4b0074ba5a5e160?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592&kvcommref=mostpopular

 

There is change coming. The democrats are finally getting on board with Decriminalization, and not the definition the repubs use.

Decriminalization as in No crime, no time, no fine.

 

VOTE every repub and t party puke out of office...every office from dog catcher to senator.

 

We are taking this country back from the GOP Greedy Old Psycos,

wow you came out from under your angry rock eh?

 

You can't even get the regulars here to not vote repub. What makes you think you can change others minds?

 

Vote yes in ohio, at least they have home grows...

It is not about getting people to not vote repub,,,,most of us should be voting dem if we want to keep getting help from ssi-ssdi.

 

But when some one is an idiot and bad mouths a whole polical party and claims to be a dem that dont help either ya think?

 

I would honestly vote repub just to pee pee off beourbud bawahahahahaha!

 

peace

[+Malamute]

You vote Republican anyway phaq...

;-p

[beourbud]

 

 

You can't even get the regulars here to not vote repub. What makes you think you can change others minds?

Vote yes in ohio, at least they have home grows...

The regulars have been wrong on most court rulings and their interpretation of the law. Just sayin

 

We the people want to Free the Weed, Grow our own. All of the legal lies protect a few and the rest get screwed.

 

If people can still be arrested for the plant , it ain't for we the people.

 

Get OFF Our Grass.....Decriminalize. No Crime, No Time, No Fine

[beourbud]

You vote Republican anyway phaq...

;-p

I know right, A Taker by repub definition ,supporting the party that promotes hate and bigotry and war and crimes to humanity and The War on Drugs. A son of a cop / oil maker.

 

This is irony only life can script.

[beourbud]

Do you support the MiLegalize group ?peace

I support Free the Weed. Decriminalization as in No Crime , No Time, No Fine

 

Anything else is just a wolf in sheeps clothes.

 

We the People want Cannabis to be a Cottage industry not another wall street commodity.

 

The 1% are trying to monopolize cannabis thru legal lies. We are Not going to vote for it.

[+Malamute]

The saddest thing about this Responsible ohio Con Amendment, is that it is actually a step forward for Ohio on the basics of it; it is just this insane monopoly issue that is terrible. If you removed the monopoly aspect and allowed common growers, it is actually "ok" and a step forward for Ohio.

 

I would vote against it myself.  Amazingly.  Gobstoppingly amazing to make something so bad I would vote against 'legalization'.

[RandomStoner]

Oh man,where to start? I almost forgot why I don't visit here any more...

 

In my opinion it's not a dem/gop issue,the problem is our 2 party system if the dems put up Mau, and the Republicans put up Stalin were going to vote one of them in.....Right?

 

Hell ask any brain dead liberal about guns,or organ harvesting at planed parenthood for profit or drilling our own oil or burning clean coal (which we in America have more coal than all of the middle east has oil) Or open borders? Gotta let these Mexicans in to do the work we should be doing....oh but alas were on ssdi because of insert useless diagnosis here.........

 

What am I forgetting here. . . .

 

Oh,the work of one madman causes the entire nation of idiots to BAN the Confederate battle flag of North Carolina,while we can't call the gunmen at the Marine recruiting office Muslim Terrorists..Oh and cutting off your weiner doesn't make you a woman,only a man with no weiner...just in case no one told you luberals.

[+Malamute]

Thanks for proving the point Random.

 

:-)

[AmishRnot4ganja]

Oh man,where to start? I almost forgot why I don't visit here any more...

In my opinion it's not a dem/gop issue,the problem is our 2 party system if the dems put up Mau, and the Republicans put up Stalin were going to vote one of them in.....Right?

Hell ask any brain dead liberal about guns,or organ harvesting at planed parenthood for profit or drilling our own oil or burning clean coal (which we in America have more coal than all of the middle east has oil) Or open borders? Gotta let these Mexicans in to do the work we should be doing....oh but alas were on ssdi because of insert useless diagnosis here.........

What am I forgetting here. . . .

Oh,the work of one madman causes the entire nation of idiots to BAN the Confederate battle flag of North Carolina,while we can't call the gunmen at the Marine recruiting office Muslim Terrorists..Oh and cutting off your weiner doesn't make you a woman,only a man with no weiner...just in case no one told you luberals.

 

Ok. You are either an incredibly stupid lower class citizen or an incredibly smart upper class citizen who is masquerading as an incredibly stupid lower class citizen. Which one is it?

[Indigro]

I support Free the Weed. Decriminalization as in No Crime , No Time, No Fine

 

Anything else is just a wolf in sheeps clothes.

 

We the People want Cannabis to be a Cottage industry not another wall street commodity.

 

The 1% are trying to monopolize cannabis thru legal lies. We are Not going to vote for it.

I met w a grower in hippy clothing a few days ago... He supported limited grow rights and limited licensing and limited distribution, so he could (ahem) grow massive commercial farms, and apparently get rich. He'll b in a big surprise should that world view come true.

 

But anyway, seems like a lot of people r really twisted in their views and knowledge of the whole 'legalization' effort. Even peeps u would think r on the side of the little guy r all tripped up on what they think is coming.

[t-pain]

But anyway, seems like a lot of people r really twisted in their views and knowledge of the whole 'legalization' effort. Even peeps u would think r on the side of the little guy r all tripped up on what they think is coming.

100% agree.

 

its interesting seeing who falls on what side though. greedy people and "everythings free" mentality.

[t-pain]

The saddest thing about this Responsible ohio Con Amendment, is that it is actually a step forward for Ohio on the basics of it; it is just this insane monopoly issue that is terrible. If you removed the monopoly aspect and allowed common growers, it is actually "ok" and a step forward for Ohio.

 

I would vote against it myself.  Amazingly.  Gobstoppingly amazing to make something so bad I would vote against 'legalization'.

you have heard the ohio legislature plans to nullify any monopolies in the proposed language, right?

 

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2015/06/16/joint-resolution-on-monolopies.html

 

if that passes, would you support responsible ohio?

[beourbud]

I met w a grower in hippy clothing a few days ago... He supported limited grow rights and limited licensing and limited distribution, so he could (ahem) grow massive commercial farms, and apparently get rich. He'll b in a big surprise should that world view come true.

But anyway, seems like a lot of people r really twisted in their views and knowledge of the whole 'legalization' effort. Even peeps u would think r on the side of the little guy r all tripped up on what they think is coming.

Were you in hippy clothing or was he in hippy clothing?

Why limit the grow? Why limit or license? You can grow all the tomatoes you want. If you grow good tomatoes "they will come"

No monopoly necessary.

What happened to a free market?

Decriminalize...No Crime, No Time, No Fine

[t-pain]

oh man dont say the h-word around here...

[beourbud]

hey I have been at City of Santa Clara CA meetings. I know from hippies

Edited August 15, 2015 by beourbud

[Indigro]

Were you in hippy clothing or was he in hippy clothing?

Why limit the grow? Why limit or license? You can grow all the tomatoes you want. If you grow good tomatoes "they will come"

No monopoly necessary.

What happened to a free market?

Decriminalize...No Crime, No Time, No Fine

Lol, nah, im the clean cut guy in a golf shirt... Arguing w the hippy, where he was for mass productuon, and i was calling him a sell out... Never would have guessed it from appearances/dress

 

Im with you, in principle... My only contention w ur decriminalization is whether or not we could actually have something like free market competition in america, which i highly doubt, just as it would be very difficult to realize true decrim in america. I very much would like to see that happen, esp if evryone could participate, especially the small guy. I truly feel it would be much better for quality, selection, and availability... Better for anyone using mj (to go small, not big).

 

U could even say i support laws that would limit production and distribution, similar (in a way) that the mass produced, limited production peeps want it regulated... I just want to regulate against them in particular.

[phaquetoo]

You vote Republican anyway phaq...

;-p

Actualy I dont only vote one way or the other, but I did not vote for a person named barrack heusian obama while we were in the middle of a war with extreme muslimes!

 

 

But on the other hand I do know which side feeds me!

 

Peace