MEDICAL-MARIJUANA EFFORT ADVANCES

Ohio's second proposed medical-marijuana statewide ballot issue took
a step forward yesterday when it was certified by Attorney General Mike DeWine.

The Ohio Medical Cannabis Amendment to the Ohio Constitution contains
a "fair and truthful" summary and has the necessary 1,000 signatures
of Ohio registered voters, DeWine determined.

The issue next heads to the Ohio Ballot Board, which will determine
whether it should appear on the Nov. 6 general-election ballot as a
single issue or multiple issues. Secretary of State Jon Husted set a
board meeting for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. If the board approves,
supporters will be allowed to begin collecting the 385,245 valid
signatures of registered voters necessary to qualify for the ballot.

In October, the Ballot Board approved a similar medical-marijuana
ballot issue, the Ohio Alternative Treatment Amendment. Supporters
are gathering signatures for that issue.

Either issue, if passed, would allow Ohioans with qualifying medical
conditions to buy, possess and grow marijuana for medicinal purposes.

The Medical Cannabis Amendment, certified yesterday, is backed
primarily by a group made up of patients seeking pain relief for
medical conditions.

The proposed language says Ohioans have "inalienable rights" under
the Ohio Constitution, including the right to "be eligible to use
cannabis as medicine as a result of a diagnosed debilitating medical
condition." The issue would establish an Ohio Commission of Cannabis
Control to regulate medical cannabis in Ohio.

The group's initial proposal was rejected by DeWine last year because
it did not fairly summarize the proposal.

The other issue, the Alternative Treatment Amendment, would allow
qualified medical practitioners to prescribe marijuana for patients
at least 18 years old with a qualifying medical condition. Patients
could obtain up to 3.5 ounces of marijuana at a time and could
cultivate up to 12 marijuana plants.

Both proposals are aimed at sufferers with specified medical
conditions: cancer, Parkinson's disease, HIV and AIDS, post-traumatic
stress disorder, sickle-cell anemia, glaucoma and others.

Backers of the competing amendments have been unable to agree to work
together and decided to move ahead independently.

Sixteen states and the District of Columbia have some form of
medical-marijuana law.

Information about the Ohio Medical Cannabis Amendment of 2012 is
available at www.omca2012.org. Information about the Ohio Alternative
Treatment Amendment is at www.ohiommjballot.org/hometop.html.