If you follow marijuana politics, then you know that Ohio has a marijuana legalization initiative that will be on the ballot in 2015. The initiative has drawn a lot of controversy because it only allows ten entities to grow recreational marijuana for profit in Ohio. The ten entities that get to grow marijuana for profit are the only ones funding the initiative as far as I know. So who are these ten entities? Below is a list of who will be able to grow marijuana for profit if the initiative passes, via Marijuana Business Daily:
• Licking County site – Dr. Suresh Gupta and Alan Mooney, principal of Mooney Wealth Advisory.
• Hamilton County site – William Foster, owner of A-1 Quality Logistical Solutions; Arizona Cardinals player Frostee Rucker; and former American National Basketball Association star Oscar Robertson.
• Lorain County site – Bobby George, executive with Corporate Management Group.
• Clermont County site – Frank Wood, CEO of Secret Communications.
• Lucas County site – David Bastos, partner in Capital Investment Group.
• Delaware County site – Jennifer Doering, general manager of Chas. Seligman Distributing Co., in Kentucky.
• Summit County site – William “Cheney” Pruett, CEO of DMP Investments, in Texas; John Humphreys, chief financial officer of DMP Investments; and singer/restaurateur Nick Lachey.
• Butler County site – Fashion designer Nanette Lapore; philanthropist Barbara Gould; Paul Heldman, former executive with Kroger Co.; financier Woody Taft; and musician Dudley Taft Jr.
• Franklin County site – Rick Kirk, CEO of Hallmark Campus Communities.
• Stark County site – Ben Kovler, who runs a Chicago-based investment fund; and Peter Kadens, a Chicago entrepreneur in the solar energy industry.
All eyes will be on Ohio in November. The campaign has done a poor job of working with the cannabis community and supporters, and has caused future harms with their ‘Buddie the marijuana mascot’ gimmick. With that being said, marijuana prohibition is a horrible thing. How do readers feel? Do you think this is a ‘marijuana legalization at all costs scenario?’ Or do you feel that this is the best that Ohio can do, and that people should vote for it?