COLUMBUS, Ohio — As a member of the International Cannabinoid Research Society, a collector of antique marijuana apothecary jars, the founder of an industrial hemp business and “a pot smoker consistently for 47 years,” Don Wirtshafter, an Ohio lawyer, has fought for decades to make marijuana legal, calling it “my life’s work.”

But when Ohio voters go to the polls Tuesday to consider a constitutional amendment to allow marijuana for both medical and personal use, Mr. Wirtshafter will vote against it.

The television commercials, direct-mail ads, endorsements and debates are over: It’s time to decide whether marijuana will be legal in Ohio.

Eyes across the country will be on the Buckeye State on Tuesday to see what voters decide on State Issue 3, the for-profit constitutional amendment to legalize marijuana in smokable and edible form for recreational use for those 18 or older, and for patients of any age with qualifying medical conditions.

The warring campaigns — ResponsibleOhio and Ohioans Against Marijuana Monopolies — are as different as you can imagine.

ResponsibleOhio is backed almost exclusively by 10 groups of wealthy investors who were expected to spend upward of $25 million on the legalization campaign.

Ohio may be on the brink of creating America’s first marijuana ‘monopoly.’

n the surface, Ian James sounds like any other idealistic marijuana advocate: He’s critical of the war on drugs, he touts the economic and tax benefits of legalization and uses the familiar rebuttal against the “think of the children!” argument by pointing out that dealers are currently selling pot to kids and dispensaries will be carding customers. But James, the man behind this Tuesday’s ballot measure to legalize marijuana in Ohio, is motivated by more than his political convictions.

WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) – Former governor and U.S. Senate candidate, Ted Strickland, was in Warren on Sunday supporting current Warren Mayor, Doug Franklin, in his reelection.

Strickland also shared his thoughts on the issue of legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use.

“If this was a straight marijuana legalization vote, I would vote yes. I am troubled by the monopoly aspect of it,” he said.

Stickland is for recreational and medicinal use of marijuana, but if Issue 2, the Ohio Initiated Monopolies Amendment, passes, it will give a limited number people power.

Yesterday a friend emailed to ask if I had any thoughts about Ohio's Issue 3, which would fully legalize marijuana cultivation and sale in the state. Ohio? I barely pay attention to California, let alone Ohio.

But Issue 3 turns out to be surprisingly fascinating—or venal and repellent, depending on your tolerance for sleaze. Apparently one of the authors of the initiative came across a Rand report on marijuana written by a bevy of drug-policy worthies, and it offered up a dozen possible options for legalization. One of them is called "structured oligopoly":

COLUMBUS

Ohioans could buy marijuana, pot-infused candies and other related products from potentially 1,100-plus retail stores around the state if voters approve a legalization measure on Tuesday's ballots.

The proposed constitutional amendment, known as Issue 3, would let adults 21 and older purchase marijuana and grow up to four plants at home. The initiative lays out a regulatory scheme, while creating a network of 10 authorized growing facilities and establishing nonprofit medical marijuana dispensaries.

Here are some things to know about how retail stores would be work under the measure.

NUMBER OF STORES BASED ON OHIO'S POPULATION

Colorado: the mountains, the Wild Wild West and when it comes to growing marijuana, Colorado is at least to a degree the Wild West because there, if you pass a licensing test you can have a grow facility.

That is unlike the Ohio model where there would only be 10 grow farms. But it does far more than that; it would allow recreational use of the addictive version of the drug, as well.

And as in any Wild West, there needs to be a new sheriff in town, “I’m Andrew Freedman and I’m the director of the Governor’s Office of Marijuana Coordination”.

COLUMBUS -- Gov. John Kasich said he has voted against state Issue 3 and voiced concern about the impact the marijuana legalization amendment could have on efforts to combat drug abuse.

"I just think it sends the wrong message," he said. "When you run around telling kids not to do drugs, young kids, and then they read that we might legalize marijuana, I just think it's a mixed message. It's not good."

Backers of Issue 3, however, said the proposal to legalize and regulate marijuana in Ohio would actually help the state in its efforts to counter opioid addiction.

A state charter amendment to legalize recreational and medical marijuana and another to stop monopolies are driving voter turnout in the Mahoning Valley.

But election officials say turnout for Tuesday’s election won’t be high.

“Those two issues are the main reasons people are voting in this election,” said Adam Booth, Columbiana County Board of Elections director. “There isn’t much else on the ballot except for a few mayor and trustee races.”

State Issue 3 would legalize the use of marijuana for anyone 21 and older. Marijuana could be grown commercially only at 10 locations owned by investors bankrolling the initiative.

COLUMBUS — Two issues on this week’s ballot stand alone, but the fate of one may depend on the other.

Ohio is about to make a historic decision on Issue 3. Should the state become the first east of Colorado to legalize marijuana for recreational, medical, and commercial purposes?

But state voters also have a decision to make on Issue 2. Should private individuals have the right to etch their own commercial monopolies into the Ohio Constitution?

If Issue 2 passes, the marijuana legalization amendment may never take effect, even if voters support it.