In just under two weeks Ohioans will be voting on a pot legalization measure on the fall ballot. But on Thursday Public Health Dayton and Montgomery County and several other local agencies—law enforcement and mental health organizations—held a press conference to talk about what they say would be detrimental effects of recreational marijuana use for the area.
Bill Wharton with Public Health Dayton, said, “We wanted to make clear that the public needed to understand what kind of choices they would be making if they chose to willingly bring recreational marijuana into our community.”
Public Health, The Alcohol Drug And Mental Health Service agency (ADAMHS), United Way, and the Dayton Police Department all participated in the news conference.
They say their focus was solely the recreational use of pot and they did not address specific policies on the medical marijuana aspect of Issue 3, which proponents have cited as one reason the law should pass. The issue was pushed forward by ResponsibleOhio which claims the state "spends an estimated $120 million to enforce failed marijuana laws."Proponents also believe passage of Issue 3 will creat jobs and revive Ohio's economy.
Public forums have taken place in several communities to allow debate on both Issue 3 and Issue 2, which deals with monopolies for marijuana growers.