Medical pot activists had said the founder of well-funded marijuana group ResponsibleOhio sabotaged their efforts.

COLUMBUS -- Citing a technicality, a state board dismissed a complaint that the founder of marijuana-legalization group ResponsibleOhio sabotaged the efforts of grassroots activists to put a medical-marijuana question before Ohio voters.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The marijuana legalization debate is most often expressed as a social or moral issue.

But the forum, "Marijuana Legalization: Will Your Business Be Impaired?" at the Greater Cleveland Partnership forum Thursday framed the debate as a workplace and workforce issue. The organization hasn't taken a position on legalization, but held the event to expose the local business community to all sides of the issues, said Joseph Roman, the GCP's president and chief executive officer.

Cincinnati's influence on the push to legalize marijuana in Ohio this year grew Tuesday when former state Sen. Eric Kearney announced that he will serve as a senior advisor to the ResponsibleOhio campaign.

"The issue of marijuana legalization is one all Ohioans should take seriously," Kearney said in a statement. "As a former legislator, I know that our state government is not ready to act on this important issue. Ohioans are being unjustly punished for using marijuana, while patients do not have access to medical marijuana for treatment. It's time we reform this failed prohibition, and I'm proud to be part of the effort to do so."

DENVER — Just outside of Downtown, far from the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, the Williams family is cultivating what they hope will become America’s next big consumer brand.

They’re so confident in the new venture that they’ve invested millions of dollars into new processes, equipment designs and their increasingly popular product: legal marijuana.

CEO of Medicine Man, Andy Williams, inside his office at his company's headquarters. Emily Maxwell | WCPO

“We’re on the bleeding edge of a new developing industry,” said Andy Williams, president and CEO of Medicine Man. “There are very few times in the history of the world where people have been able to do what I’m doing right now.”

CASTLE ROCK, Colorado — In their new neighborhood park, Heather and Adam Benton look on as their giggling daughter races through the grass.

“Swing, swing,” chants 3-year-old Addyson, shouting her latest new word.

The surer steps, the expanding vocabulary — all milestones the Bentons feared they wouldn’t celebrate with their toddler who for most of her life has suffered from hundreds of epileptic seizures a day.

Until now.

Less than two months ago the Bentons left their Liberty Township home to make the 1,200-mile move to Castle Rock, where they can legally give Addyson medicine that’s derived from marijuana. Twice a day, the Benton’s apply tiny patches — among the latest advances in medical marijuana — to little Addyson’s ankle.

LUCAS COUNTY, OH (Toledo News Now) - Multiple groups have been efforting getting marijuana legalized in Ohio, but not everyone is in favor of legalization.

Lucas County Sheriff John Tharp says he's worked hard to fight drug abuse in the county since he took office.

He even started a program called Drug Abuse Response Team (DART). With DART, sheriff's deputies are responsible for working with drug addicts and those who have overdosed to get them into rehab and help them recover.

The sheriff says legalizing marijuana would only hurt his efforts since many see marijuana as a gateway drug to more dangerous drugs like heroin.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohioans could face more than one issue on their ballot in November that would legalize marijuana. And while that has stirred some concerns, don't look for the legislature to step in ahead of time to countermand the efforts.

Some lawmakers dislike that the process for amending the Constitution is being used to potentially create what they see as a business monopoly on marijuana. Others dislike legalization at all.

But Statehouse insiders say no serious push is underway to try and enact something quickly ahead of November.

Indeed, House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger made it clear this week that he is opposed to any action that could involve legalizing marijuana.

COLUMBUS – If their proposal gets on the November ballot, and is approved by voters, ten people or investment groups will basically own the exclusive right to grow marijuana for legal sale in Ohio.

As their campaign, under the one-word name “ResponsibleOhio”, has gained traction, the people behind those investments (roughly $2 million apiece) have largely stayed behind-the-scenes, until now.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters disclosed Monday that he has convened a task force to study the impact that marijuana legalization would have on the state of Ohio, its work to be funded by the organization trying to legalize pot in Ohio.

In a written announcement, Mr. Deters said the study group of policy experts and elected officials will research the public health, public safety, and economic impacts of medical and personal legalization. David Little, a spokesman for Mr. Deters, said the other members of the task force will be disclosed when the study is released.

Ohio could legalize marijuana if a proposed amendment collects enough signatures and is approved by voters.

But those who are looking to light up as soon as the law goes into effect may want to hold off.

According to an analysis of ResponsibleOhio’s proposed constitutional amendment to legalize marijuana in Ohio, employers’ drug policies would still have control over whether or not employees could smoke marijuana.

So if your company has an anti-drug policy, a potential law legalizing marijuana would have little to no impact.

What 2 days worth of filled petition books look like. 250k+ signers and counting. pic.twitter.com/0JCPr1yfA1