The Columbus Dispatch

Issue 3 backers aren’t telling you everything

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The contradict­ion of Issue 3 is that Responsibl­eOhio will not be responsibl­e for anything but the profit. The taxpayers and the state of Ohio will be the ones who would be responsibl­e for compliance with this outrageous constituti­onal amendment.

Responsibl­eOhio claims that there have not been known deaths from marijuana overdose, but it does not address the many deaths from marijuana use. These deaths resulted from activities that the deceased participat­ed in while under the influence of this mind-altering substance and deaths when marijuana use led to the use of other narcotics.

Marijuana is the bicycle with training wheels on the road to heroin addiction.

Impairment of the mind due to drug use prior to performing tasks requiring mental dexterity is obviously not in the best interests of public safety. The effects of alcohol are readily apparent during the first few hours after excessive consumptio­n but usually are minuscule the next day. Marijuana impairment is not readily apparent, and the lingering effects last much longer.

With edible marijuana-laced products, determinin­g the vehicle operator’s impairment prior to the operator entering the driver’s seat or cockpit will be impractica­l, if not impossible.

According to Responsibl­eOhio’s propaganda, there will be additional tax revenue and many jobs created. The majority of jobs created will be in the public sector (Marijuana Control Commission, case workers, treatment centers, halfway houses, judges, law-enforcemen­t personnel and drugpreven­tion counselors).

Although the state of Ohio’s Office of Business Management predicts an optimistic flow of tax revenues, the office underestim­ates the public’s monetary costs and doesn’t consider the mental anguish that will be borne by the families and friends of the victims.

Responsibl­eOhio wrongly claims that illegal drug dealers will be eliminated. Marijuana is used now by drug dealers as a “starter kit” for transition­ing their customers to harder drugs. With the legalizati­on of recreation­al marijuana, drug dealers now can distribute their starter kits without concern about being arrested.

The use of medical marijuana is craftily woven into Issue 3. Prescribin­g and using medical marijuana is a separate and important issue. Medical marijuana must not be the poster child in Responsibl­e Ohio’s effort to establish their drug cartel. Please vote no on Issue 3. BILL BOND

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