Battle lines drawn over pot plan

A controversial proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize marijuana in Ohio is drawing flak from an unexpected source: pro-pot activists. Tonya Davis, a Kettering marijuana supporter who has sought a change in state law for more than a decade, said the amendment would be too controlling and give exclusive rights to large-scale growth and sales to a handful of people.

"If you are going to legalize it, legalize it, don't monopolize it," Davis said.

The ballot issue, proposed by the group "Responsible Ohio," would allow for ten grow sites in the state, operated by ten registered operators. One of the sites is proposed for Middletown. Another site had been set for Moraine, until it was moved to Delaware County after it was learned the site was within 1,000 feet of a church. That church, which remains under construction, belongs to the Word of God Church of Moraine. Pastor Garnell Crawford said he is opposed to making marijuana legal regardless of where it is grown.

"I don't know what they put in it but it hooks people and buddy it hooks people. It's like an addiction that they have to have," Pastor Crawford said.

Lydia Bolander, spokesperson for Responsible Ohio, said they have made other changes to the plan besides the switch in grow sites. Under the plan now, adults will be able to have at least four marijuana plants at home for their own use. Sale of home-grown pot would remain illegal. Bolander said the state would be better off regulating and taxing marijuana than continuing the current practice of underground and illegal growth and sales.

While Davis' group, "Responsible Ohioans for Cannabis," has its own proposal that may be on the ballot in 2016, anti-drug forces say they will fight whatever plan makes it before voters.

"We don't believe that marijuana is a substance that we want legalized in the state of Ohio," said Marcie Seidel of the Drug Free Action Alliance.