Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Auditor Says It’s Too Easy For “Economic Interests” To Try To Change Constitution

The proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize and regulate marijuana in Ohio has one state official calling for an overhaul of the process. 

Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler has details.

Auditor David Yost says he thinks it’s too easy for private economic interests to get constitutional amendments onto the state ballot. 

“The whole initiative process was designed to protect the many against the powerful few,” said Yost. “What’s happening now is that the powerful few are using that very safeguard to get their own way and make themselves rich at the expense of the many.” 

Yost says the 2009 amendment legalizing only four casinos run by only two companies is an example, and this year’s possible issue allowing 10 growing sites by what he calls a marijuana cartel is another.  Yost’s plan could require some groups to go to voters twice to change the constitution. But of course his plan would require a constitutional amendment, and therefore would also have to be approved by voters.

A native of Chicago, naturalized citizen of Cincinnati and resident of Columbus, Alison attended Earlham College and the Ohio State University. She has equal passion for Midwest history, hockey and Slavic poetry.