Smoke weed everyday, said rapper Snoop Dogg in his famous song Smoke The

Weed.
This could become a reality for many people, as the state of Ohio has a bill on the
ballot for this November regarding the legalization for the recreational use of marijuana.
According to Responsibleohio, if this bill is passed, it will help create many jobs, save the
police force money, and possibly decrease crime in the Ohio area. However, it could also
create controversies such as health issues, business monopolies, and extra taxes for Ohio
citizens.
Issue three, or the Ohio Marijuana Legalization Initiative, will be on the ballot Nov. 3,
2015. On this date, voters will determine whether or not the recreational and medical use of
marijuana will be allowed to residents of Ohio.
You[ve] got to moderate and control it [marijuana], teacher Ryan Foltz said.
If this issue is passed, citizens in Ohio will be allowed to grow marijuana, but with a
few restrictions. One of these restrictions is that one person cannot have more than four
flowering marijuana plants in their household at a time. However, all citizens 21 and over
will be able to purchase marijuana from dispensaries, the store where marijuana can be
procured. This marijuana will be grown in indoor industrial facilities called MGCE
(Marijuana Growth, Cultivation, and Extraction) by a select group of people.
Dispensaries may only buy from certified government farms, and may not sell their
products for less than they got them. The Stark county MGCE is called GTI Investors LLC
and is owned by Ben Kovler and Peter Kadens. Marijuana will be grown there on 27.18 acres
of land throughout Ohio. However, this is only the Stark county farm. There are nine others
for a total of about 319 acres.
According to Ballotpedia.org, the issue also limits the number of dispensaries that can
be found in Ohio. However, the number is one for every 10,000 people which allows for
1,159 dispensaries. This is more than the 822 McDonald's in Ohio. If this issue passes, It will
be easier to get marijuana than to get a cheeseburger.
The major controversy of this issue is the monopoly that these farms and dispensaries
will have on marijuana. As only these certain people can grow it, they will have an incredible
amount of profit from it.
This is similar to the 2009 issue that stated that only four casinos could be built
throughout Ohio, and they are still the only four today. These four casinos still dominate the
gambling industry in Ohio just as these ten farms will dominate the cannabis industry.
The other downside of issue three is the extra taxes it will impose on Ohio residents.
A 15 percent flat taxation rate will be imposed on all MGCEs. This means that all MGCEs
will have to pay an extra 15 percent on all marijuana that they sell to dispensaries. The other
tax is a five percent tax rate that will be put on all marijuana dispensaries. This means that
when when marijuana is bought at a dispensary, an extra five percent will be charged.
However, over half of these taxes will go into the the corresponding Township
Government Stabilization Fund. According to US Government Spending, the extra revenue
from cannabis taxes would be used to fund education and public services such as police,
firemen, and schools.
Along with the economic benefits of legalizing marijuana, the medicinal benefits will
have a strong impact on citizens. According to The National Institute on Drug Abuse, the
consumption of THC, tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive in marijuana, is known to
relax muscles and place the user in a mellowed state, but can also raise heart rate, cause panic
and anxiety attacks and even contain 50% to 70% more cancer causing substances than
regular tobacco . Consuming cannabis is known to reduce nausea in chemotherapy, and quels
muscle spasms. THC is also known to increase the appetite in HIV and eating disorder
patients.
 Although the election is less than three weeks away, the verdict is still unclear.
Its going to be close, said Foltz.
If the issue passes, the consumption of marijuana would have large economic and
health impacts on Ohio residents. Revenue from taxes would be boosted, allowing the
government to spend more money in areas of the state such as infrastructure and education.
Although THC is known to improve appetite and relax muscles, it can also carry cancer
causing carcinogens and is known to increase heart rate and chance of panic attack.
Marijuana comes in many forms, and has many beneficial and detrimental aspects, but
well know what Ohioans really think after November third.