Legalizing Marijuana in Ohio: Debate over health impact
Ohio Issue 2, the Marijuana Legalization Initiative, is on the ballot in Ohio on Nov 7.
What you need to know:
- A "No" vote opposes legalizing marijuana for adult use in Ohio.
- A "Yes" vote supports legalizing marijuana for adults 21 years old and older.
Issue 2 would regulate recreational marijuana use, including: cultivation, processing, sale, purchase, possession and home growth.
"Legalization in Ohio I think would be a great thing," Founder of Cannabis Safety First, Tim Johnson said. "It’s going to stimulate the commerce of course, creating jobs and opportunities."
Opposers of Issue 2 argue that if it passes, kids would be at risk.
"Today’s marijuana is nothing like it was 30 years ago," Executive Vice President of Safe Approaches to Marijuana Luke Niforatos said. "It's more potent than ever before. The moment you let industries selling an addictive drug become legal, they will find ways to target and addict younger demographics. That’s how they can stay afloat as a business."
I think our kids matter more than our dollars. - Luke Niforatos
"It would be a very bad thing for kids," President and CEO of Ohio Children’s Hospital Association, Nick Lashutka said. "Big marijuana is going to make these products attractive to kids and they are going to advertise to the cohort and the consequences of them could be significant and it’s just a bad deal for Ohio."
Johnson argued that kids are already getting their hands on marijuana now and said if Issue 2 is passed, that won't change.
"There's the fear that kids are going to get it," Johnson said. "Well the kids are already getting it. I don’t think it’s a point of whether or not they are going to get their hands on it more. I think it’s a point of they are going to get their hands on a controlled product that is safe now."
If it doesn’t pass, I don’t think it’s going to impact the consumption percentages in Ohio. - Tim Johnson
Lashutka said since medical marijuana became legal in Ohio, he's seen more instances of children accidentally ingesting cannabis and becoming sick.
"Our poison control centers have had a 20-fold increase in accidental ingestions," Lashutka said. "People may think this is the same marijuana that their folks grew up with. This is not the same marijuana that was in 1970s, 80s, 90s and 2000s. The THC content is significantly higher."
Lashutka said marijuana use can also have an impact on a child's mental health.
"Parents, kids and working families are having a really hard time accessing mental health," Lashutka said. "There is a shortage of workers. There is a shortage of infrastructure and we are working as hard as we can with our government partners in the private sector to address how to increase access and decrease wait times. But if Issue 2 were to pass, I fear there will be an explosion of mental health needs for kids."
Niforatos who lives in Colorado where marijuana is legal, said he's worried about the second hand impact it could have on Ohio children.
"Literally two times out of three when I take my two daughters to the park in Denver, there is someone lighting up a joint and the second hand marijuana spoke covers my daughters as they are playing at the playground," Niforatos said. "In my experience, there are no police around to enforce the laws. We don't have enough police to enforce it, but no one is respecting the laws on marijuana public use."
Ohio voters will ultimately make the decision when they head to the polls Election Day on Nov. 7.
