Guest columnist Fr. Thomas Haren was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Cleveland in 1973. Has served as a priest at six different parishes in Cuyahoga County. He is currently the pastor of St. Monica Church in Garfield Heights where he has served since 2005.

Just think, in a few months the use of marijuana may become legal in Ohio.  Did you ever think how this could affect our lives? For example, during the past 30 years we have demonized "smokers." Now we will have a new group to demonize – "pot heads."

The ResponsibleOhio marijuana legalization campaign turned in a total of 695,273 signatures earlier this year in an attempt to get their initiative on the 2015 ballot. That’s more than twice as many as the 305,591 valid signatures required. That means that the signature gathering effort needs to have a 43.95+ signature validity rate to hit their goal. In some areas that goal is being exceeded. However, in other areas, the signature validity rate is falling short. Per USA Today:

Looks like someone other than myself votes "No" on this November's likely ballot issue seeking a constitutional amendment legalizing the personal use and growth of marijuana in Ohio. This "No" voter is Uncle Sam in the embodiment of the Internal Revenue Service. Let me explain.

Marijuana is still classified on federal drug schedules as a "Schedule I" controlled substance. Thus, under federal law, the sale of marijuana remains illegal. A recent newspaper article highlighted a story that a famous boy band star and other luminaries may invest in a pot-growing center to be located in Hudson.

Pot investors, try this one on for size:

AKRON, Ohio — Ohio resident and former boy band star Nick Lachey is among five investors in one of 10 marijuana grow centers that would be created across the state under a proposed ballot issue.

The Akron Beacon Journal reports ResponsibleOhio is attempting to get an issue on the Nov. 3 ballot that would legalize marijuana for medical and personal use by adults 21 years or older.

The ballot issue would limit the growing to specific locations where groups of investors financing the operations own or have the option to buy property.

The 98 Degrees singer, most recently a television actor, is hoping to bring a grow center to Hudson.

Ohio resident and former boy band star Nick Lachey is among five investors in one of 10 marijuana grow centers that would be created across the state under a proposed ballot issue.

The Akron Beacon Journal reports ( http://bit.ly/1DfU5rX ) ResponsibleOhio is attempting to get an issue on the Nov. 3 ballot that would legalize marijuana for medical and personal use by adults 21 years or older.

The ballot issue would limit the growing to specific locations where groups of investors financing the operations own or have the option to buy property.

He used to croon love songs to the masses.

Now, he wants to grow pot in Hudson.

Nick Lachey, a member of the band 98 Degrees and more recently a television actor, is among five investors in a Hudson marijuana grow center, one of 10 that would be created across Ohio under a proposed ballot issue.

The other investors include three owners of the CashMax stores in Ohio and a car business owner from Texas.

Cheney Pruett and John Humphrey, two of the CashMax owners, attended a news conference in Akron on Tuesday held by ResponsibleOhio, the group backing the ballot issue.

“This is an exciting entrepreneurial opportunity,” Humphrey said.

A drop in the number of marijuana plants seized in Ohio in recent years can be attributed to a greater push by growers to cultivate the plants indoors, according to authorities.

Investigators say they have seized $326 million in marijuana across the state since 2008. But authorities say that the underground market for marijuana continues to thrive, with growers moving operations inside to avoid police, thieves and unpredictable weather. *edit*

Jason Park, an agent with the U.S. 23 Major Crimes Task Force in Chillicothe, said just as much and maybe more marijuana is being produced now, even though the number of confiscated plants has dropped.

Many states are facing numerous deadlines for legislation, but the marijuana movement keeps progressing through it all. A major cannabis banking bill is making waves, Alaska’s recreational lawmakers just released regulations, and Chile is on the verge of decriminalization. To top it off, Crimean authorities just discovered an island covered for miles with cannabis, as far as the eye can see. We’ve got the latest in cannabis legalization updates – are you in the know?

U.S. Cannabis Updates

NATIONAL

An op-ed about ResponibleOhio’s “cartel-like” marijuana-legalization initiative and other options for Ohioans

by Eric Babalis

NEWTOWN – The landscaping company raided by FBI agents Tuesday morning is enmeshed in a lawsuit alleging fraud involving a contract with a minority-owned business on public projects.

The lawsuit claims Evans Landscaping is at the heart of a "malicious civil conspiracy" regarding contracts with both the state of Ohio and the city of Cincinnati. The suit alleges Evans Landscaping officials improperly took public money meant for a minority-owned contractor. Evans Landscaping has also sued, claiming lack of payment from that contractor.

The FBI would not say why it raided Evans Landscaping.