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CLEVELAND, Ohio – The debate over legalizing medical marijuana here in Ohio has been going on for years.

If you ask many of the people at the most recent town hall meeting in Cleveland, they’ll tell you that it should be legal.

"I'm actually here on behalf of my mother and my brother who suffers from severe epilepsy,” said supporter Maria Staats. “We have been doing research for a long time now on the potential benefits of medical marijuana to treat epilepsy, so we're here to hopefully persuade people who are skeptical about medical marijuana."

Staats was one of many to share her story with Senators David Burke and Kenny Yuko. Neither have plans to propose a bill to legalize medical marijuana at this time, but they felt it was important to get feedback from citizens about the idea.

Especially since issue 3 failed last November.

The constitutional amendment would’ve allowed both the use of recreational marijuana and medical marijuana.

"They have to make it happen, our children’s lives are depending on it. There are many others that need this medicine and it's time. There's no reason that Ohioans shouldn't have access to this medicine. It's available in 23 other states, including our nation's capital,” said Kristina Frate.

The cause hits close to home for the mom from Concord. Her five-year-old daughter, Paige, has Dravet Syndrome, which mean she suffers from chronic seizures. She said cannabis oil could really help her out.

Of course not everyone agrees that medical marijuana should be legalized.

Citizens Against Legalizing Marijuana Ohio Chapter released this statement:

“The Citizens Against Legalizing Marijuana (CALM) Ohio Chapter is in favor of continued research, consideration, and study in the use of Marijuana for medical purposes as is any other potential medicine, under the standards of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This will ensure that it is both safe and effective and proper dosages are applied to the sickness being treated. Marijuana as medicine is available today and has been since the mid 1980’s in pill form through doctors in the form of Marinol and now in generic form as Dronabinol. In addition, there are currently 8 studies in progress that are testing the safe and effective use of a medicine called Epidolex which is a cannabis-based medicine for the treatment of epilepsy in children. The FDA process is the method we should continue to use to approve medicines and ensure their safe and effective use. Legalizing marijuana for medical use should not be decided by legislative or voter initiative.”

Continuing coverage here.

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