Get out the vote!

This is our chance, Ohio peeps. It looks we're going to vote on recreational legalization in Ohio this Fall, assuming Frank LaDouche and his conservative coconspirators don't contrive a way to keep us off the ballot at the last minute. Urge everyone you know to get out and vote! This is a big election for us in Ohio! In addition to a proposed constitutional amendment to guarantee reproductive rights, which will be a huge draw, we'll be weighing in on whether we want to legalize recreational marijuana in Ohio, with both a commercial component and home grows.

We need this, for a variety of reasons. Ohio's medical marijuana program has evolved a bit but is still needlessly restrictive and, frankly, is complete garbage; the state has been slow to add new approved conditions and an adequate number of dispensaries, and prices are still ridiculously high. Approving a more permissive form of legalization will greatly improve access for medical users by adding more retail outlets and lowering prices, as well as lessening the stigma that still comes with utilizing a helpful therapy.

Please, please, please, urge everyone you know to register to vote, if they haven't, and support this legalization measure. I used to think of Ohio as a forward-thinking state, but we've fallen behind in too many ways. If you've been to our neighbor "up north" recently (I have trouble naming that Wolverine state, as a Buckeye fan, sorry), you may have seen what we can have here. Dispensaries there have proliferated and are thriving. They offer a strains and products to suit everyone, and the prices and quality are amazing. Nearly half of all US states have legalized recreational marijuana, so why should Ohio remain behind the times? And with home grows of up to 6 plants (12 max per household), we'll have legitimate and affordable options for the medicine we need, or the relaxation we desire. Why not undercut the black market and put the shady dealers who sell other, more dangerous substances out of business?

This is our chance, Ohio! Please perform your civic duty and vote, and support the common good by urging your friends and love ones to do the same. We've waited too long for this moment and can't afford to squander it.

Man it would be legal everywhere!

big bud man 413 said:

Man it would be legal everywhere!

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It's getting there!
Frankly I'm a little embarrassed that Ohio has taken such a hard turn to the right in recent years. I don't think I was wrong to think of it as a moderate/centrist state with a fairly progressive population for most of my life, but now it's like we're trying to join the deep South. Our special election last week drew huge numbers though, to vote down the GOP-backed changes to voting and the state constitution by a wide margin. And the reproductive rights amendment and cannabis legalization should both be huge draws again in November, so I'm still optimistic that the intelligent people here will wake up and speak up. We need to stop falling behind in so many ways.

When is the vote ?
I hope it’s November 2024
That turnout would be your best bet
And one more thing
M Go Blue!

Herb & Suds said:

When is the vote ?
I hope it’s November 2024
That turnout would be your best bet
And one more thing
M Go Blue!

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I'll forgive the las part of your comment since you were kind enough to read in the Ohio forum
Still not officially approved yet because the final round of signatures are being verified by the counties, but it will be this November's ballot, 2023. We also have a big constitutional amendment on the ballot that would enshrine certain reproductive rights in the constitution. That alone is garnering a ton of attention.

The GOP tried to preempt that with a special election (after previously saying that special elections out of cycle are bad), in an attempt to change the rules of the game. They wanted to "protect" our constitution by changing the normal 50% + 1 vote threshold for amendments to 60%, mainly to prevent November's reproductive rights amendment from passing. The secretary of state was even famously caught on camera saying that changing the game was all about abortion. If they had succeeded, it would also have become almost impossible for citizen-driven initiatives to even make a statewide ballot, as the new rules would have required huge numbers of petition signatures from ALL 88 counties instead of the 44 that have always been the standard. They were defeated by a margin that was somewhat shocking given how they've been dominating statewide elections lately.

So that gives me hope that we on the left can still win here, and some republicans do support legalization. There was a bipartisan legalization bill that the jokers in Columbus refused to act on. That inaction and failure to take control of the situation and determine how legalization would go meant that the petition-based law became eligible for a statewide ballot. Our lawmakers could have enacted a less permissive law but nothing happens at the statehouse in Columbus except infighting and corruption, so we'll be getting a pretty decent form of legalization, should we pass it. It remains to be seen how they'll license/permit dispensaries and growers, and whether it will be prohibitively expensive for small businesses to come to the table (as with our joke of a medical program), but we'll get home grows, at least.

I couldnt find the legislation in a quick google, do you know what it looks like?

Its funny how "recreationally legal" translates to "If you want to pay us to grow weed, you will have to forefit civil liberties, and grow within our perameters"

I sincerely hope you have something akin to the ravin act 2.0

Tolerance Break said:

I couldnt find the legislation in a quick google, do you know what it looks like?

Its funny how "recreationally legal" translates to "If you want to pay us to grow weed, you will have to forefit civil liberties, and grow within our perameters"

I sincerely hope you have something akin to the ravin act 2.0

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Sorry, I'm really not sure what you're referring to about civil liberties, and I don't know anything about the Ravin act, except that it might pertain to Alaska. Would you care to elaborate? Possession of 2.5 ounces and grows of 6 plants (12 per household) seem like reasonable progress to me. We'll still be missing employee protections from employer meddling, even with a doctor's recommendation, but this would be a big step int he right direction.

I have not had an opportunity to read the actual ballot language, though this was a citizen-driven initiative rather than something written by our lawmakers. Secretary of State Frank LaDouche conceded yesterday that our legalization measure will be on the ballot in November. It is my understanding that passage will establish a control board of some sort, who will have to handle the details and implementation, which will also entail oversight of the state's medical program. This is apparently not a fully-baked deal that's ready to go, which is not abnormal. I'm concerned that commercial growing will still not be conducted in an equitable fashion, and retail licensing may be needlessly expensive, but my personal interest is in home grows and legal possession, as well as the likely expungement of prior convictions (not that I have any myself).

Right now we're just excited to leave the reefer madness/war on drugs era and get on with some common sense. We have a pretty fair chance of becoming the 24th rec state, though it's not a slam dunk.

Edit: All the talk here is about regulating marijuana like alcohol, which seems reasonable to me, even if it will still come with significant restrictions. If we pass this and prove that it won't ruin society, we can ease the restrictions over time.

emepher said:

Sorry, I'm really not sure what you're referring to about civil liberties, and I don't know anything about the Ravin act, except that it might pertain to Alaska. Would you care to elaborate? Possession of 2.5 ounces and grows of 6 plants (12 per household) seem like reasonable progress to me. We'll still be missing employee protections from employer meddling, even with a doctor's recommendation, but this would be a big step int he right direction.

I have not had an opportunity to read the actual ballot language, though this was a citizen-driven initiative rather than something written by our lawmakers. Secretary of State Frank LaDouche conceded yesterday that our legalization measure will be on the ballot in November. It is my understanding that passage will establish a control board of some sort, who will have to handle the details and implementation, which will also entail oversight of the state's medical program. This is apparently not a fully-baked deal that's ready to go, which is not abnormal. I'm concerned that commercial growing will still not be conducted in an equitable fashion, and retail licensing may be needlessly expensive, but my personal interest is in home grows and legal possession, as well as the likely expungement of prior convictions (not that I have any myself).

Right now we're just excited to leave the reefer madness/war on drugs era and get on with some common sense. We have a pretty fair chance of becoming the 24th rec state, though it's not a slam dunk.

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The law in my state gives a department of the state the right to come into my home and look at my grow any time they please, with some notice that I cant quote off the top of my head.

The ravin act is the opposite, making possession of a small amount legal under the constitutional right to privacy, and expanded greatly from there. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravin_v._State

Jack Herer helped pen prop 215 for California, and he was vehemently against any compromise for the right to grow, possess, and smoke medicinal marijuana. Its been almost 30 years, and the laws in the most progressive and cannabis friendly state have barely progressed.

I am of the mind that modern cannabis legislation is not a step in the right direction, its a forfeiture. Settling for less than legal.

Look, right now banks dont take money from cannabis businesses. My local hydro shop got dropped from their bank, despite the nutes theyre selling being made by the same people making the fertilizer in home depot. I digress... The insurance for dispensaries, along with permits, cultivation lisences, and fees are through the roof. The only players in the game have money, and lots of it. Oklahoma had some of the better laws, but their market also went bust the quickest, for better or worse.

Most of these laws exist to funnel the money towards the top and as a byproduct force us to make the choice between our constitutional rights and our love for marijuana cultivation. This is not legalization, or freedom, by any definition.

Vote in your best interest, but I advice you to find out what the legislation says before making that distinction.

Edit: I love growing. This isnt pessimism, this is passion. I believe things can change, but we have to start giving a fuck what it is we vote for beyond what its being called. Sorry to be political, but its a pertinent comparison here, and I will keep it brief. The Patriot Act was passed because of the overwhelming feelings about our nations safety and security after 9/11, so much so we didnt bother reading the damn thing. I have a good excuse, I was a small child at the time. I am older now, but I fell for the same thing when my state legalized medical growing, so much so I voted against "legalization" because I saw the legislation for what it was. The overwhelming support for weed, and frustration with the status quo is ostensibly doing the same thing one state at a time. Rant over.

I was also excited to see the prohibition era end. Thats how I started growing again. Now that I know how much I love growing, I realize what we gave up, and I dont see us getting it back.

you honestly think they will support small business ? I’m not impressed by any state on their bills and what they have done. If anything they made huge business the only growing way and supporting no growing policies or such small amounts it’s a joke. Shoot look at Cali or Washington or Colorado .. preety much any of em and its embarrassing

Tolerance Break said:

The law in my state gives a department of the state the right to come into my home and look at my grow any time they please, with some notice that I cant quote off the top of my head.

The ravin act is the opposite, making possession of a small amount legal under the constitutional right to privacy, and expanded greatly from there. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravin_v._State

Jack Herer helped pen prop 215 for California, and he was vehemently against any compromise for the right to grow, possess, and smoke medicinal marijuana. Its been almost 30 years, and the laws in the most progressive and cannabis friendly state have barely progressed.

I am of the mind that modern cannabis legislation is not a step in the right direction, its a forfeiture. Settling for less than legal.

Look, right now banks dont take money from cannabis businesses. My local hydro shop got dropped from their bank, despite the nutes theyre selling being made by the same people making the fertilizer in home depot. I digress... The insurance for dispensaries, along with permits, cultivation lisences, and fees are through the roof. The only players in the game have money, and lots of it. Oklahoma had some of the better laws, but their market also went bust the quickest, for better or worse.

Most of these laws exist to funnel the money towards the top and as a byproduct force us to make the choice between our constitutional rights and our love for marijuana cultivation. This is not legalization, or freedom, by any definition.

Vote in your best interest, but I advice you to find out what the legislation says before making that distinction.

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i 100% agree with you and every person before they declare a bill as their step forward for the people maybe should read it before hand. I know my ass did for my state and I told everyone i knew the rec law was super bad for the people but didn’t help anyone and also removed so much of the medical defense and help . these bills also write the cities and regions can write their own requirements and also limits and additional taxes/audits . They made so many regions ultra crazy expensive but also monopolies just by banning zones and making shit holes the only area u could grow. Read ur bills/laws cause many sound good but if u read they also don’t protect u from if anything but also make it very easy for state to get more in ur life but also make u a criminal . these bills also make it so a small group on their council can also edit at anytime what they want. I saw many states instantly and quickly after people vote add stuff on that not only monopolized business but also made everything growing wise more restrictive . You think they won’t file the same if not worse offense if they find plants or u driving with thc in ur body? People think once rec allowed its legal and also accepted when it’s a pure lie but also these business or people involved are ethier huge corp/fund raisers and their agenda isn’t quality control but control of you and for you to only buy from them. I think as a nation we need a federal law that decriminalizes it and removes schedule 1 cause intill than u can’t bank your money, your tech a criminal or Rico and also even at hobby scale growing can ruin ur life If caught. You think from renter to jobs these corp base will let u smoke? Shoot a few but majority its sad but true ur better off without the laws there.


every state I’ve seen this happen to with rec is a complete disgrace and also ruins every opportunity to fix this major flaw of making it way over taxed, way too many rules, making it unlogcally processed and tested but also isolating cannabinoids as the the key . You wonder why so much of our industry is pushing high thc or pure cbd when if given such or blind tested there’s no way anyone wants pure of such.

these government want both highest taxes but also to be able to keep u as a criminal status and use us a easy ticket, I won’t ever vote yes or endorse this nonsense of trying to lie to people as status of hope and legalization. it’s scary cause if u want to have a business I will even tell you they aren’t gonnea protect ya against DEA/feds and crazy part is before approval they will send ur info and Id to them for approval (shoot even trimmers or any worker has to) . it’s like ur paying all this for a protection deal with the mob and that’s all they are doing but also draining u to want to be black market. I mean google the % of successful business/grows and tell me it’s profitable but also doable for a real non Monsanto level bs

Doin the happy dance!!

Same here while look at which bean pack to pop