Marijuana Taxes

ResponsibleOhio, the group behind a campaign to legalize the medical and recreational use of marijuana in Ohio, has begun to share more details about its proposal and the people behind the campaign. The group, which includes political consultants and Democratic donors, is working to place place a state constitutional amendment on the November 2015 ballot.

(Brennan Linsley)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Barbara Gould, a philanthropist and fundraiser for Democratic politicians, including President Barack Obama and former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, will help lead the campaign to legalize marijuana in the state this year.

Gould of Indian Hills, an affluent village outside of Cincinnati, is among the investors and backers of ResponsibleOhio, the group that wants to amend the Ohio Constitution to legalize marijuana use and tax the sale of the drug, but limit where it can be grown in the state to 10 specific areas.

Her brother, James Gould, is also working on the campaign. He is founder of The Walnut Group, a private equity fund in Cincinnati, and a member of the board of directors for Build-A-Bear Workshop, a popular mall store where children make their own stuffed animals. Gould will be working "to secure accredited investors to fund the campaign," ResponsibleOhio spokeswoman Lydia Bolander said in a statement.

(Update: I've had time to look more closely at campaign finance records. The Goulds give to both Democrats and Republicans. Barbara Gould, for instance, made campaign contributions to U.S. Sen. Rob Portman and Republican National Committee.)

ResponsibleOhio confirmed the involvement of Barbara and James Gould less than a day after the Northeast Ohio Media Group contacted James Gould to inquire about his association with the campaign.

The Goulds are involved because they believe in the benefits of medical marijuana, the campaign said.

"Medical Marijuana is important to the Gould family as Ms. Gould's husband, Bill Motto, recently succumbed to lung cancer," Bolander said. "Access to legal, safe and pharmaceutical grade medical marijuana would have helped ease his suffering."

To date, ResponsibleOhio has revealed little about the specifics of its proposal such as where the 10 growing sites would be and who would own and operate the sites. The Northeast Ohio Media group has reported earlier that ResponsibleOhio created 10 groups and sold shares to select investors. Each group has secured commitments, or shares, worth about $2 million, according to people who spoke on the condition they are not identified. The money raised will be used to pay for the campaign, which would likely cost $20 million or more.

ResponsibleOhio announced Friday that it will identify the growing locations and the investor groups in the coming weeks. It is still vetting its proposed amendment, which will detail numerous economic, tax, and enforcement issues.

"These groups include businesswomen and men, medical professionals and patient advocates, and others who are accredited investors, who have undergone a criminal background check as a part of the investment in the campaign effort," Bolander said.

James Gould also serves on the boards of Wild Things Gear, a designer of high-end outdoor apparel and Adspace Networks, Inc., a mall digital media network, according to his biography on his company website. He is founder of a sports management firm and Avondale Pictures and Avondale Entertainment Group. He also helps nonprofits and several charities.

Brent Larkin, who was The Plain Dealer's editorial director from 1991 until his retirement in 2009, contributed to this report.

