Outlaw marijuana 'monopolies,' lawmakers say

COLUMBUS – Ohio lawmakers want to eliminate "monopolies" in the Ohio constitution, such as one proposed by marijuana legalization group ResponsibleOhio.

A proposed constitutional amendment unveiled Tuesday would prohibit businesses from creating monopolies in the constitution. That would likely include putting specific parcels of land into the constitution, such as the location of marijuana farms. The change would not affect casino or racino locations already added into the constitution.

"The day of trying to buy our state constitution, we need to start putting some brakes to it pretty quick," said Ohio Speaker Cliff Rosenberger, R-Clarksville.

ResponsibleOhio's proposal would create 10 marijuana growing farms across Ohio. The group says it has collected more than 550,000 signatures of the 305,591 it needs by July 1 to put the issue before voters in the fall.

Ian James, executive director of ResponsibleOhio, said lawmakers are denying voters the right to decide on...

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URL: 
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/local/2015/06/16/outlaw-marijuana-monopolies-lawmakers-say/28820777/