Another marijuana legalization effort in Ohio has missed its initial state hurdle. Republican Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine rejected a petition for the proposed Legalize Marijuana in Ohio constitutional amendment, citing problems with its summary. The group must resubmit a description he deems "fair and truthful" to proceed to the 2016 ballot. It is one of three efforts to relax Ohio's marijuana laws that are making their way through the authorization process with the goal of a statewide vote. DeWine says the amendment's backers incorrectly stated the amount of taxes to be distributed to Ohio's local government fund. He says their summary also failed to mention the proposal sets no age limit on the sharing of equipment among medical marijuana users, only among recreational users. The petition, which is not related to the ResponsibleOhio proposed amendment that has already moved on to the next legal step of gathering more than 305 thousand petition signatures, was submitted April 17. The group that submitted the amendment is made up of four people, including Charlie Earl, who was the Libertarian Party candidate for Ohio Secretary of State in 2010 and tried to run for Governor last year. Earl says he supports the effort because he supports legalization of marijuana for medical purposes, for industrial hemp, and for personal use, but opposes the creation of 10 licensed marijuana growing facilities in the ResponsibleOhio plan.
