An Ohio Senate panel is weighing potential changes to an anti-monopoly proposal that potentially could block marijuana legalization this fall.
A committee vote is possible Tuesday. The measure would revise Ohio's constitution to prohibit amendments that deliver commercial economic benefits to individuals, monopolies or cartels. That includes a series of marijuana-growing sites described in ResponsibleOhio's November marijuana issue. If lawmakers act by Aug. 5, the two amendments could appear side-by-side, with the top vote-getter prevailing. The Ohio House approved the anti-monopoly measure last week. Its sponsors told senators Monday the measure is necessary to protect Ohio's constitution from well-funded private profiteering. Critics argue the language is over-broad, violates the First Amendment, creates unfair roadblocks for grassroots initiative campaigns, and strips voters of their decision-making power.