It appears that momentum is building in Ohio to make it the fifth state to legalize marijuana for recreational use. However, the proposed amendment to legalize the plant is shrouded in controversy, as many pro-marijuana advocates are outraged over benefits the investors behind the amendment are set to receive if it passes in this November.

Two months ago, in an installment of The Morning Roar, I explained the key differences between legalization proposals brought forth by two separate groups in Ohio. For a detailed breakdown of the differences, please read the article linked above, but if you’re short on time I’ll provide a brief summary.

The group that is backed by wealthy investors is named ResponsibleOhio. The first few items in their amendment are easy to support, allowing pot use by adults over the age of 21 and legalizing medical marijuana for minors with their parents’ consent. If they stopped there it wouldn’t be a bad amendment, but the amendment goes on to outline regulations for commercial growth of marijuana in the state. The proposal advocates cartelizing the growing of marijuana by restricting grow sites to ten specific spots that are owned by the very same investors who are bankrolling ResponsibleOhio’s efforts. The amendment would allow adults to grow up to four plants if they acquire permits, but these individuals would only be allowed to keep the marijuana for personal use.

There is another proposal that has been circulated by Responsible Ohioans For Cannabis. Their proposal would not cartelize the industry; rather it would make it legal for anyone over the age of eighteen to produce, cultivate, possess, transport, distribute, or consume as much marijuana as they please.

Unfortunately, ResponsibleOhio’s effort continues to gain momentum, not Responsible Ohioans For Cannabis. The Ohio Ballot Board approved ResponsibleOhio’s proposed amendment last Friday. Now the only remaining hurdle to ballot access is obtaining 306,000 signatures. With the amount of resources flowing into the group’s coffers from wealthy investors they should not have an issue obtaining the signatures.

Cincinnati.com reports on the wealthy investors who are in the process of buying a protected stake in the marijuana trade.

ResponsibleOhio, the group behind the latest ballot initiative, is seeking to pioneer a model for financing a marijuana-legalization campaign. In other states, grassroots pot supporters have banded together, with the financial support of a national marijuana group, to gather signatures and pay for a ballot campaign. But in Ohio, an investor group led by Cincinnati sports agent James Gouldis putting up about $20 million to finance the effort itself. The catch? The amendment would give those investors exclusive rights to profiting from the growth of cannabis in Ohio. The group is putting another $20 million into developing 10 marijuana farms across the state – anchoring the effort in Southwest Ohio, with three farms in Greater Cincinnati and one just north in Montgomery. The exclusive growing market has been called everything from a “monopoly” to a “cartel” by anti-marijuana politicians and traditional marijuana supporters alike. “We sort of hate to see them come in and get rich on the hard work we’ve done over the decades,” said Stroup, of NORML.

This situation highlights how powerful individuals use the democratic process of government to openly trample rights. Democracy worshipers would have you believe the aspects of the political process that allow public voting on amendments are the ultimate representation of “the will of the people.” This is a lie. The above scenario proves how easily the process can be hijacked by wealthy players who use the process to camouflage coercive tactics used by crony capitalists who are in bed with government bureaucrats.

This is a garbage amendment and an insult to those that value liberty. Incrementalists will argue that this is a step in the right direction, because it result s in the legalization of marijuana and will keep innocent people from being jailed for possessing a plant. The point is invalid. The amendment eliminates marijuana prohibition and replaces it with laws that restrict marijuana growing. Amendments or legislation like ResponsibleOhio’s only reorganize the landscape of the rights violations; they do not result in real progress.

Liberty Links!

– Beacon Hill legislators push forward legislation to legalize marijuana.

– Facebook wants to host content from media sites rather than making users tap a link to go to an external site.

– Ron Paul: After twelve years in Iraq, we must march home.

– Judge Nap: Here’s Where Ted Cruz Is Not Following the Constitution

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