Ohio forms 14-member Task Force on Medical Marijuana

Posted by Sagar Satapathy on January 14, 2016.

The House Republicans in Ohio, have announced a 14-member Task Force that would work on the issue of medical marijuana and submit a report to the Ohio House later this year. State Rep. J. Kirk Schuring, R-Canton, will serve as chairman. Attorney Chris Stock and businessman Jimmy Gould, who have been making huge efforts to legalize medical marijuana in Ohio, are also part of the team.

The Task Force includes Doctors, Lawmakers, Businessmen, Cops and Advocates. State Rep. Steve Huffman, R-Troy, who is part of the panel, is also a medical Doctor. Although Huffman had opposed Issue 3 medical marijuana initiative in November, he is ready to support it now if it's tightly controlled.

The goal of the task force would be to garner opinion and suggestions from the members on both sides and hold discussions with medical experts, community advocacy groups and law enforcement officials.

In November 2015, Ohioans voted 65-35 percent against Issue 3, a proposed constitutional amendment that would have legalized medical and recreational marijuana. However, public opinion polls show that majority of people are in favor of medical marijuana although they are opposed to recreational use of pot. That compelled the lawmakers in Ohio to take a fresh look at the issue.

Although 23 U.S. states have legalized medical marijuana and 17 have allowed limited use of low THC and high cannabidiol products, pot still remains prohibited under the federal law.

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