Marijuana Policies Should we legalize it?

1. Marijuana PoliciesShould we legalize it? Jerica DeWolfe Tiffany Freeman Cody Kahan Chris Moorman Daniel Perchinsky Anthony Porcelli

2. Introduction • Marijuana • Medicinal Properties • Increases Appetite • Pain • Marijuana is legal in 16 states and many foreign countries • Many Benefits and Problems • Ohio still has marijuana illegal

3. Marijuana in Ohio • Three attempted policies in past six years • S.B. 74 • S.B. 343 • H.B. 478 •All failed to garner enough support in the Ohio General Assembly

4. Marijuana in Ohio (cont.) • All threes bills focused on legalizing the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes only • Each would require a “registry identification card” from the Department of Health • Also require a notarized note from a physician • H.B. 478 did however allowed qualified patients to grow their own marijuana

5. Ohio Governmental Actors • Legislative and Executive branches • Most Democrats point to Institute for Policy Research poll (2009) • 73% of Ohioans support legalization of medical marijuana • Ohio conservatives, and some liberals, see it as “political suicide,” (Cleveland Plain-Dealer) • Executive branch already spends millions • Meigs County

6. Non-Governmental Actors • Ohio Patient Network • “a coalition of patients, caregivers, activists and medical professionals who support the compassionate use of cannabis for various medicinal purposes.”

7. Non-Governmental Actors (cont.) • Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Association of Ohio (ADAPAO)/Drug-Free Action Alliance • “ADAPAO employs the power of dialogue, networking and advocacy to amplify a unified voice for alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention in Ohio.” • “To provide leadership and foster networks in order to promote safe and drug free communities throughout Ohio.”

8. Evolution of California Law • 1972: Proposition 19 introduced, legalize statewide: rejected 66% • 1975: Senate Bill 95, possession under one ounce $100 fine • 1976: Moscone Act, felony  misdemeanor

9. Legalization of Marijuana for medicinal purposes 1996: Proposition215, “Compassionate Use Act” • By patients that “would benefit from medical marijuana” and possess a “written or oral recommendation” from their physician • Conditions: arthritis, cancer, chronic pain, HIV/AIDS, anorexia, migraines, etc. • Initially no limitations on amount • Oct. 2003: California State Senate Bill 420/ Medical Marijuana Program Act established amount • 8 oz. dried marijuana, 6 mature or 12 immature plants • California Department of State Health Services; establish voluntary patient registry and I.D. cards

10. Road to Legalization Tom Ammiano; “Marijuana Control, Regulation, and Education Act” aka. California Assembly Bill 490  California Assembly Bill 2254 • 1st attempt to legalize use and sale of marijuana in California • If passed: sold and taxed openly to over 21 adults in a manner “similar to alcohol”

11. Proposition 19:Regulate, Control, and Tax Act 2010 • Response of Schwarzenegger: October 2010… • S.B. 1449; decriminalized the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana • Simple infraction • $100, like a traffic ticket • Eliminating need to appear in court • Went into effect January 1, 2011 • Was rejected with 54%! • Would have legalized recreational use of marijuana and its related activities and also granted governments the ability to regulate and tax new market

12. Marijuana in the Netherlands • Drug Policy Provisions: • To prevent recreational drug use and to treat and rehabilitate recreational drug users. • To reduce harm to users. • To diminish public nuisance by drug users (the disturbance of public order and safety in the neighborhood). • To combat the production and trafficking of recreational drugs.

13. Drug Laws in the Netherlands • Illegal to possess, sale, or use marijuana • Two categories of drugs • Hard • Soft • 1976 Gedogen policies • “Tolerance Policy” • Allows drug to be sold and used publicly

14. Coffee Shops • Place where you can • Smoke and Buy marijuana • Highly Criticized • Violent • Creates more problems • Been banned in many municipalities • Mayors wants them OUT!!!!

15. Public’s Views on Marijuana • Causing more problems • Increasing teen usage • Creating more violence • Making the country unsafe

16. Pro Legalization • $68 billion spent on corrections • 1/3 is spent on nonviolent drug related crime • $150 billion is spent on policing and courts with 47.5% of drug arrests are marijuana relates • Total spent on marijuana related crime $93 billion

17. Potential Source of Revenue • New industry • New jobs in agriculture, production, packaging, advertising, and marketing • New source of tax revenue • In California marijuana production is a $14 billion a year industry • A 10% tax could bring $1.4 billion in revenue for the government from California alone

18. Medical Uses • Used to treat : • Nausea from HIV and Chemotherapy patients • Glaucoma • Spasticity (extreme muscle tension) • Postoperative Pain

19. Low Addiction Rate • Marijuana users are less likely to develop an addiction than those who: • Consume alcohol- 15% of users become addicted • Consume heroin- 23% of users become addicted • Consume tobacco- 33% of users become addicted • Only 9% of those who use marijuana become addicted

20. Don’t Legalize Marijuana! • Economy • Increased Crime and Violence • Increased Consumption • Health Problems

21. Economy Increased Crime and Violence • Taxing Marijuana will help economy? • Black Market • More Problems, Fewer Benefits • Buying off Black Market • Increased Competition • See more Dangerous Drugs • New Drug War?

22. Increased Consumption Health Problems • No more risk • Lead to more teen use • Addiction • More Dangerous Drugs more likely • Addiction • Second Hand Smoke • Pregnancy Risks • Schizophrenia

23. Recommendations • Looked at how other states and countries dealt with marijuana • California and Netherlands • Different size populations, economy, etc. • Ohio should legalize marijuana for a trial period of time • If it does not work, vote to recall it