Ohio rejects medical marijuana referendum

Attorney general cites at least 5 defects in proposal

1/22/2016

COLUMBUS — Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today rejected a proposed referendum to legalize medical marijuana.

The attorney general said he found at least five defects in the summary of the Ohio Medical Cannabis Amendment.

The group Ohio Medical Cannabis Care LLC turned in its third attempt at an amendment on Jan. 13, along with the required 1,000 signatures of registered Ohio voters.

One defect is that the summary says a qualified medical patient is at least 21, while the proposed amendment says such persons must be at least 18.

Another defect is that the summary language limits signage on testing facilities and dispensaries to a cannabis leaf or green cross. However, the proposed amendment does not provide for that limitation.

The attorney general said he could not certify the summary as a fair and truthful statement because of those defects. Previous submissions were rejected on July 29 and Oct. 2, 2015, for similar reasons.

The proposed amendment would allow a minor to use cannabis under a doctor’s recommendation, and an adult with qualifying medical conditions to grow up to eight flowering pot plants.