The ResponsibleOhio marijuana legalization initiative has caused quite a bit of controversy in marijuana politics. At first, the ResponsibleOhio initiative provided for just 10 marijuana cultivation sites. After some outcry by many people in the marijuana reform movement, ResponsibleOhio added a provision for home cultivation. But the rules surrounding home cultivation are unclear. I heard someone from the ResponsibleOhio campaign state that the home cultivation provision was copied from Oregon. But that’s clearly not the case because Oregon will not require a license to cultivate up to four plants. How hard will it be to get a home cultivation license? How much will it cost? What will the rules be?
I’d hate to see marijuana legalization pass in Ohio with a kind-of-sorta home cultivation provision that proves to be unrealistic, and a de facto marijuana monopoly occurs. That possibility is something that worries Ohio lawmakers too. Ohio lawmakers are mulling over introducing a bill that would ban marijuana monopolies. Per Marijuana Business Daily:
Ohio legislators don’t want the marijuana business to look like the state’s casino industry if voters legalize cannabis this fall.
In 2009, a group that included Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert was granted exclusive rights to build four casinos in the state.
Similarly, a proposal from a group called ResponsibleOhio would green-light medical and recreational marijuana but allow just 10 cultivation operations. Under the plan, major investors in the legalization campaign would control those grow sites.
Lawmakers are mulling a voter referendum that would put an anti-monopoly issue on the ballot this year. If passed, it may effectively kill ResponsibleOhio’s plan.
Every time I post an article about ResponsibleOhio, I am flooded with e-mails from people that oppose or support the campaign. Both sides try to debate with me whether or not there is a home cultivation provision to the initiative. Per the first link in this article, ResponsibleOhio has added a home cultivation provision. I had someone get all bent out of shape out of Ohio because they felt that I was wrong, and that there is no home cultivation provision. I can’t say how good the provision will be, but there appears to be one. So as I stated previously, there are few details as to how someone will get a home cultivation license. It could prove to be easier than some people think, and on the other side of the coin, it could prove to be impossible. Keep that in mind when you are voting.
