Jessie Balmert

jbalmert@enquirer.com

COLUMBUS — Ohioans won't be voting on medical marijuana this fall because Marijuana Policy Project dropped its campaign after lawmakers passed a comprehensive plan Wednesday.

National marijuana legalization powerhouse Marijuana Policy Project, and its local affiliate, Ohioans for Medical Marijuana, announced Saturday they would suspend a campaign to legalize medical marijuana in Ohio. The group had been working to collect the more than 305,000 valid signatures it needed by July 6 to make the November ballot.

Their quick retreat from the Buckeye State was unexpected. As late as Wednesday afternoon, The Enquirer asked spokesman Aaron Marshall if the ballot initiative would continue even if lawmakers passed a bill. His response was an adamant, "hell yes."

But after the vote, Marijuana Policy Project was at an impasse: Pour money into a state where lawmakers had approved legal medical marijuana or leave the Buckeye State to spend their resources elsewhere.

Constitutional amendments in Ohio are expensive, as Issue 3 backers learned last fall. ResponsibleOhio, the group that led a failed attempt at legalizing all marijuana in Ohio, raised about $20 million only to be defeated by a cash-strapped coalition led by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.

"(T)he reality is that raising funds for medical marijuana policy changes is incredibly difficult, especially given the improvements made to the proposed program by the Ohio General Assembly and the fact that the Governor is expected to sign the bill," said Brandon Lynaugh, campaign manager for Ohioans for Medical Marijuana, in a statement.

Lawmakers' plan would legalize most forms of medical marijuana while providing oversight from the Ohio Department of Commerce, Ohio Pharmacy Board and Ohio State Medical Board. But, unlike the ballot initiative, legislators would not allow smoking marijuana or growing it at home.

"Smoking dope and growing dope, that’s not an Ohio thing," said Sen. Dave Burke, R-Marysville, who along with Sen. Kenny Yuko, D-Richmond Heights, shepherded the bill through a narrow Senate vote. "That's not medicine."

If Gov. John Kasich signs the bill, medical marijuana could be available within 16 months, Burke said. It will take about a year to license cultivators then grow the plants. But Ohioans with a recommendation could purchase medical marijuana from other states, where it is legal, as soon as the law takes effect – 90 days after the governor signs it.

Medical marijuana plan heads to Gov. Kasich

Burke, like many of his Senate colleagues, didn't love the idea of legalizing medical marijuana, but more than that, he didn't want an outside group placing their rules into the Ohio Constitution. Lawmakers heralded Marijuana Policy Project's exit as an example of their abilities to deliver changes Ohioans wanted.

"Marijuana Policy Project choosing to withdraw its ballot initiative is welcomed news. But more importantly, it is an indication of the General Assembly's willingness to listen and respond to the will of Ohioans," said Speaker Cliff Rosenberger, R-Clarksville, in a statement.

Without Marijuana Policy Project, Ohioans will not be voting on medical marijuana this fall. Athens-based Grassroots Ohio, which has an initiative to allow medical marijuana and hemp growing on farms, won't try for the November ballot. Attorney Don Wirtshafter said the group will shoot for the 2017 ballot instead.

Burke minimized the influence of the ballot initiative groups, saying he visited Colorado to investigate their operation with Senate President Keith Faber three years ago. Still, fear of a worse proposal had lawmakers willing to compromise. And Marijuana Policy Project seemed satisfied enough with the results to take its money elsewhere.

"(A)ll in all, it is a moderately good piece of legislation passed by lawmakers who were pushed hard by the patient community," said Lynaugh, of Ohioans for Medical Marijuana.

Or, but another way: "We responded in a meaningful way. The scoreboard shows the score at the end of the day," Burke said.