At least one of the Democratic candidates looking to become the next governor of Ohio strongly supports marijuana legalization – and is not afraid to say so. Dennis Kucinich, one of six Democrats competing to become the next governor of the Buckeye State, spoke with a small group of activists about his proposed marijuana policy.
“As governor and lieutenant governor, Tara Samples and I aim to expand Ohio’s medical marijuana law; allow home cultivation by patients and caregivers; use cannabis to reduce opioid abuse; treat not jail; restore communities most affected by the war on drugs,” and “deschedule and pass, common sense, adult use policies.”
Those were some of the policy highlights uttered by Ohio gubernatorial candidate Dennis Kucinich on Wednesday at the Cleveland School of Cannabis.
Kucinich, a former U.S. Representative from Ohio, who twice lobbied the American public to become their Democratic nominee for President of the United States, has historically embraced legalization.
“We have to recognize that prohibition is a failed policy. Tara Samples and I advocate for replacing the disastrous war on drugs with policies which are rooted in evidence, compassion, and justice for all Ohioans,” Kucinich said.
The Kucinich plan is closely aligned with the policy changes advanced by advocates who have tried to reform Ohio’s marijuana laws over the past several years.
Richard Cordray, one of Kucinich main opponents for the Democratic nomination, only tacitly supports allowing voters the choice to cast their ballot for legalizing adult-use marijuana.
But a Dec. 2017 poll indicates voters want more than the opportunity to cast a vote — the majority wants legalization.
In 2015, Ohio’s Issue 3, a flawed plan to legalize adult-use marijuana, was defeated by a 36 percent to 63 percent margin.
credit:marijuana.com