Ballot Initiative News – Page 2 – Ohio Constitution News

New Initiated Statute Proposal Provides for Expungement of Marijuana Offenses

July 16, 2015 / Steven Steinglass

The Ohio Attorney General certified an initiated statute, which would allow for expungement of marijuana offenses, if marijuana becomes legal. See ResponsibleOhio to begin collecting signatures for plan to expunge pot offenses. The initiated statute also provides that if offenders are still subject to sanctions, such as prison, fines, or community control, the offender can […]

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Chart Showing Ballot Issue Costs

July 13, 2015 / Steven Steinglass

A recent Cleveland.com article, Marijuana issue highlights steep cost of getting on the ballot, contains an interesting chart showing expenditures for recent ballot amendments.

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Anti-Monopoly Amendment to Ohio Constitution will be on the Ballot

July 6, 2015 / Steven Steinglass

House Joint Resolution 4, which would restrict amendments to the Ohio Constitution that create economic benefits in favor of certain individuals will be on the ballot this November. The resolution was passed by the necessary margin in the Ohio House and Senate. See our prior post: House Joint Resolution 4 Aims to Restrict Constitutionally Created Monopolies

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Ohio Can Proceed with Congressional Redistricting Reforms – SCOTUS Approves Independent Redistricting Commissions

June 30, 2015 / Steven Steinglass

The U.S. Supreme Court found that nonpartisan citizen commissions may draw lines for Congressional districts, instead of state legislatures. See Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Indep. Redistricting Comm’n, No. 13-1314 (U.S. June 29, 2015). Now Ohio can move forward with H.J.R. 2, a proposal to amend the Ohio Constitution to make the redistricting process more

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The High Cost of Ballot Initiatives

June 19, 2015 / Steven Steinglass

Cleveland.com reports that the consulting firm behind ResponsibleOhio’s initative petition to legalize marijuana and create a monopoly of ten grow sites stands to make 5.6 million dollars from the campaign. The costs include legal work, polling and public relations. The extraordinary costs of getting an amendment to the Ohio Constitution on the ballot has drawn the

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Ohio AG Certifies Another Marijuana Legalization Amendment – This One is Minus the Monopoly

June 18, 2015 / Steven Steinglass

The Ohio Attorney General certified another proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution to legalize marijuana. The Cannabis Control Amendment, submitted by Ohioans to End Prohibition, does not limit ownership of grow sites to designated individuals, unlike ResponsibleOhio’s amendment. See NBC News 4 story Ohioans to End Prohibition hopes to get their amendment on the

Ohio AG Certifies Another Marijuana Legalization Amendment – This One is Minus the Monopoly Read Post »

House Joint Resolution 4 Aims to Restrict Constitutionally Created Monopolies

June 18, 2015 / Steven Steinglass

House Joint Resolution 4, introduced yesterday, would amend the Ohio Constitution to restrict amendments to the Ohio Constitution that create economic benefits in favor of certain individuals. Initiatives by the General Assembly would not face these restrictions, only initiatives by individuals. An individual or group wanting to amend the Ohio Constitution to create an economic

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Better for Ohio Drops Marijuana Petition for 2015, Ohioans to End Prohibition Refiles with AG

June 10, 2015 / Steven Steinglass

Better for Ohio stopped the push to get their Legalize Marijuana and Hemp in Ohio Initiative Petition on the 2015 ballot. See Toledo Blade, Marijuana Group Quits Ballot Bid. The group said the cost of getting the necessary signatures by July 1 was prohibitive. Better for Ohio’s amendment allows forty grow-sites to be owned by

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Third Marijuana Legalization Amendment Rejected by AG

May 22, 2015 / Steven Steinglass

A third marijuana legalization amendment, called the Cannabis Control Amendment was filed with the Ohio Attorney General by Ohioans to End Prohibition. This third proposal differs from Legalize Marijuana and Hemp in Ohio Initiative Petition (Better for Ohio) and Marijuana Legalization Amendment (ResponsibleOhio) because it does not limit grow-sites to certain named individuals. Under the

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Amend Ohio Constitution to Stop Constitutionally Created Monopolies?

May 15, 2015 / Steven Steinglass

Ohio Auditor David Yost presented a proposal to the Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission’s Revisions and Updating Committee to prohibit initiative petitions (proposals to amend the Ohio Constitution) that confer a benefit only to an individual or group of individuals. The proposal is a response to marijuana initiative petitions, namely, ResponsibleOhio’s initiative and Better for Ohio ‘s

Amend Ohio Constitution to Stop Constitutionally Created Monopolies? Read Post »