I spoke to a reporter from Rolling Stone who is doing a story on the division within the drug reform community over Ohio’s 2015 marijuana legalization amendment. Indeed, the proposal to create both medical marijuana and a taxed-and-regulated adult marijuana market has alienated many supporters of legalization with its assignment of just ten commercial cannabis cultivation sites to the ten investor groups who have funded the initiative campaign.

I was at the International Cannabis Business Conference in San Francisco when Drug Policy Alliance’s director Ethan Nadelmann weighed in on the Ohio initiative:

The Green Rush Tour bus showed up at UC Tuesday for a quick stop to hand out fliers.

 A caped green superhero stumping for marijuana legalization votes at college campuses and bars in Ohio has sparked debate over its impact on children.

"Buddie" is a fuzzy, ever-smiling pot bud in a bulging white muscle suit with green trunks, gloves and boots. He arrives in a truck painted with marijuana leaves declaring: "Yes on legalization."

ResponsibleOhio infographics

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio’s elections chief is being sued over his investigation into the ballot petitions of a group backing a marijuana legalization effort.

A person identified as “John Doe” filed the federal lawsuit Thursday, claiming that a subpoena issued in the probe is overly broad and violates his constitutional rights. Doe, a pot issue supporter, wants the court to block the disclosure of records to the government that could contain his private political speech and his identity.

Goslee: Current ballot language would create growers’ monopoly

A proposed marijuana legalization amendment will legitimize a drug cartel that will have complete control over marijuana production, distribution and sales, Logan County Prosecutor William T. Goslee told the Bellefontaine Kiwanis Club this week.

“Even if you believe marijuana should be legalized, this is not the right way to do it,” he said.

“Of the 88 county prosecutors in Ohio, only Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters has come out in support of Issue 3. I choose to stand with the 86 other county prosecutors who think this is a bad idea.”

Although the issue of marijuana legalization can seem straightforward in many ways — either you want medical and recreational to be bought, sold and consumed legally or you don’t — a current initiative in Ohio that would amend the state’s constitution to allow legal pot is meeting resistance from some of the people who are usually in favor of the stuff.

NPR’s All Things Considered talked to folks in Yellow Springs, OH, a college town that I knew during my time living in nearby Dayton as a happy, hippie kind of place, where peace signs and tie-dye abound. 

Many of us who try to stay current with legalization efforts around the country were amazed this past week when ResponsibleOhio, the group that recently qualified a full legalization initiative for the November 2015 Ohio ballot, managed to offend almost everyone, regardless of their views on marijuana legalization, with their ham-fisted attempt to be cute.

Ohio's proposal to legalize recreational and medical marijuana is being met with opposition from residents who generally support legalizing pot. iStockphoto hide caption

Yellow Springs is a small college town in Ohio that has more than one head shop and a lot of tie-dye and hemp.

Many would consider it ground zero for likely supporters of the referendum on the ballot this November that could make Ohio the fifth state to legalize recreational and medical marijuana.

But the proposal is drawing some unusual opposition — and it's coming from residents who generally support legalizing marijuana.

Among the inivestors in the for-profit marijuana-legalization plan are legendary basketball player Oscar Robertson, left; entertainer Nick Lachey, center; and two great-great-grandnephews of President William Howard Taft.

There is a doctor, a developer, an NBA legend, a fashion designer, a knight, an ex-boy-band member, a professional football player and two relatives of a U.S. president.

Despite their widely varied backgrounds, investors in the for-profit ResponsibleOhio marijuana-legalization plan have something in common: They all want to make money, and lots of it.

If Ohio voters want to legalize marijuana for medicinal or other uses, let’s debate that honestly and then vote up or down on a straightforward deal for all – not be led by the noses to an artificial windfall for a tiny group of high bidders who are trying to buy their slice of the constitution.

ResponsibleOhio launched its “Green Rush Bus Tour” and Tuesday, September 1, the group will be on UC’s campus.

I am appalled ResponsibleOhio would use such a mascot to promote marijuana (“Meet Buddie: Marijuana mascot” August 28). It was the third week of the bus tour.

Many of us who try to stay current with legalization efforts around the country were amazed this past week when ResponsibleOhio, the group that recently qualified a full legalization initiative for the November 2015 Ohio ballot, managed to offend almost everyone, regardless of their views on marijuana legalization, with their ham-fisted attempt to be cute.