Marijuana Taxes

An effort by a small group is quietly underway to legalize the medical and recreational use of marijuana in Ohio by placing a constitutional amendment on the November 2015. The amendment would give rights to grow marijuana to less than a dozen landowners. (Brennan Linsley)

(Brennan Linsley)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A campaign to legalize the medical and recreational use of marijuana in Ohio is quietly taking shape and includes plans to place an amendment to the Ohio Constitution before voters in November 2015, the Northeast Ohio Media Group has learned.

The campaign plans to push an amendment, that if approved by voters, would guarantee a ten or so property owners the right to grow marijuana, according to sources who spoke on the condition they not be named.

By embedding in the constitution where marijuana can be produced – and essentially who can profit from its production - organizers are using an approach similar to the one gambling interests used in their 2009 successful campaign to allow casino-style gaming. That amendment, known on the ballot as Issue 3, limited gaming to just four locations in Ohio.

The campaign to legalize marijuana has commitments from select property owners to provide the millions of dollars that will be needed to pass such a amendment, according to sources who are familiar with the plan.

Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia currently have laws legalizing marijuana in some form, including nearby Michigan.

Supporters of an earlier constitutional amendment to legalize medical marijuana failed in July when they failed to collect enough signatures of registered Ohio voters to get the issue on last month's ballot. The Ohio Rights Group, which organized the effort, collected more than 100,000 signatures for the Ohio Cannabis Rights Act. That fell far short of the more than 385,000 signatures need.

John Pardee, president of Ohio Rights Group, said his organization is planning to pursue a medical marijuana amendment. Asked about the new campaign, he said, "I'm against creating a constitutional monopoly."

About 90 minutes after the Northeast Ohio Media Group broke this story on cleveland.com, a group calling itself ResponsibleOhio released a statement announcing a campaign to legalize marijuana. The group said it plans to place a ballot initiative before voters in 2015. Here is part of that statement. The group is not answering questions at this time.

"Marijuana for medical and personal use should be a choice made by adults 21 and older in this state," said Lydia Bolander, a spokesperson for the campaign. "We are going to end this failed prohibition."

Bolander, who works for the political consultant, Precision New Media, also said, "Legalizing marijuana for medical and personal use means increased safety because we will regulate, tax and treat marijuana like alcohol. We will smother the black market and use the taxes generated to help local communities provide vital public services."