24/07/2023
Perspectives on our current Issue 1 from the WayBack Machine:
I have ALWAYS been against the easy changing of our Ohio Constitution. The Ohio Constitution is the bedrock foundational and operational guideline for all other laws. Relatively recently (in my remembrance) people, corporations, and special interests have used the amendment process to make an end run around our locally ELECTED legislators.
Issue One does not go nearly far enough in my opinion. I wish that Constitutional Amendments had to gain approval from a super majority of counties before being placed on the statewide ballot. So rather than be left or right, i offer this article as an example of how a “special interest” group attempted to shut Ohioans out of being able to participate in the growing Cannabis industry. This out of state corporation attempted to monopolize this business sector by tricking us into simply “voting” to “legalize ma*****na.”
They knew that Ohio had ripe farm land and good climate for growers and a growing market for medicinal ma*****na. They knew that Ohioans are freedom minded people who do not want to limit their fellow Ohioans’ medical choices. They wanted to use OUR CONSTITUTION to monopolize the entire industry. Ohioans were smarter than those who would try to bamboozle us back then, and soon after legislation was passed. As a result we have lots of private growers and dispensaries all around the state. Our citizens get to profit, not a corporate monopoly.
The recent decision of the Supreme Court to send abortion decisions to the individual states has given those who would want to go around Ohio’s Legislative processes in the future, just the emotional kingpin issue to make a permanent change to the way we govern ourselves in Ohio. How many future cons will be run on Ohio of we weaken our Constitution next month? Keep Ohio decisions in Ohio for now and in the future. Vote Yes on Issue 1. Share if you agree with me. Vote Yes !
Voters may have rejected a constitutional amendment because of concerns about monopoly control, and not because they oppose looser laws.