Legalizing Medical Marijuana: Two Proposed Issues

Just a few days ago a second proposed constitutional amendment with the aim of legalizing medical marijuana was certified by the Ohio Ballot Board. The Ohio Medical Cannabis Amendment was approved on January 24, 2012. The first proposed amendment to legalize medical marijuana was certified in October of 2011 and is known as the Ohio Alternative Treatment Amendment. Both of these amendments are issues that may potentially end up on the 2012 ballot in November.

The question is, what are the differences that distinguish these two proposed amendments? An article from The Columbus Dispatch neatly summarizes how the two differ. The major distinguishing feature is  that the Ohio Medical Cannabis Amendment leaves many details to be decided to a commission to be established later, while the Ohio Alternative Treatment Amendment writes these details into the Ohio Constitution.  For example, the Ohio Medical Cannabis Amendment itself incorporates no limits on the amount someone could possess nor restrictions on distribution – these are to be decided by a commission. The Ohio Alternative Treatment Amendment adds language to the Ohio Constitution that  the legal limit of marijuana an individual could possess would be 3.5 ounces and sellers could not locate themselves within 1000 feet of any school, church, recreation center, or drug rehabilitation facility.

Sixteen states as well as the District of Columbia have some form of medical-marijuana law. Will Ohio be the next state?   C|M|LAW Library tracks proposed amendments on the Ohio Constitution page.