Medical Marijuana

Marijuana Policy Project's proposed Ohio medical marijuana amendment was certified as one issue on Thursday by the Ohio Ballot Board. Now, supporters must collect 305,591 signatures of registered Ohio voters by July 6 to put the measure on the November ballot.

(Jim Mone, Associated Press)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Backers of a proposed medical marijuana legalization got the green light Thursday to begin collecting signatures to put the measure on the November ballot.

The Ohio Ballot Board on Thursday certified Ohioans for Medical Marijuana's proposed measure as one amendment. Now, supporters must collect 305,591 signatures of registered Ohio voters by July 6.

The amendment, backed by national group Marijuana Policy Project, would allow adults to grow, buy and use marijuana if a physician recommends the drug for a qualifying medical condition such as cancer, seizure disorders or post-traumatic stress disorder. Minors could use marijuana with written permission of a parent or guardian.

The first 15 commercial growing licenses would be for large-scale growers who pay a $500,000 application fee, but an unlimited number of licenses would be available for small- and medium-scale growers. Previous coverage: Pain, severe nausea among medical marijuana amendment conditions

Ohio Sen. Bill Coley, a Southwest Ohio Republican, said that provision would constitute a monopoly and likely run afoul of last year's Issue 2.

"I thought the voters kinda decided before in the last election that when something's a monopoly we have to flag it for a monopoly," Coley said.

Chris Finney, an attorney representing the initiative, said the board will have time in the future to weigh in on that aspect and that the board's job Thursday was only to decide whether the measure constitutes one amendment.

Secretary of State Jon Husted has said a decision about the need for a second ballot question to approve a monopoly-type provision would be made after signatures have been verified.

Finney could not answer Coley's questions about which medical professionals could recommend medical marijuana and the criminal immunity provided by the amendment. Despite his questioning, Coley voted with Husted, the board's chairman, and Rep. Kathleen Clyde, to certify the measure as a single amendment.

Marijuana Policy Project spokesman Mason Tvert said the Ohio campaign will use paid signature collectors in addition to volunteers.

"A lot of our volunteers are family members of patients or patients themselves, so they're incredibly motivated," Tvert said in an email. "The initiative process isn't easy, but it pales in comparison to undergoing chemotherapy or witnessing your child have seizures on a daily basis."

Follow me on Facebook.