Ohio Supreme Court Justice calls for decriminalizing Marijuana

Posted by Sagar Satapathy on May 28, 2017.

Justice William O’Neil, an Ohio Supreme Court justice has called for a move to legalize marijuana. The justice, who is the only democrat to hold an Ohio office, was quoted stating that legalizing marijuana model is working in Colarado and pursuing the same in Ohio would raise millions in sales taxes.

The Supreme Court Justice, who early this year had said he was considering to step down and run for the Governor in 2018, also stressed on releasing marijuana offenders from prison, who are non-violent.

O’Neil stated these steps would generate approximately $350 million, a sum which can be used to create a state-run mental health network and also combat drug addiction.

“The time has come for new thinking. We regulate and tax alcohol and tobacco and imprison people for smoking grass,” the Supreme Court justice said in a recent address.

The Democrat also seeks the Ohio Department of Mental Health to reopen the state hospitals which were closed long back in a bid to change the way addicted is viewed.

Stressing the Democrats need fresh ideas to beat the Republicans in 2018, he said, “Treat addiction like the disease it is in the name of compassion.”

For the run-up to the Governor’s post, many names are fiddling from both sides. While Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, former Representative Betty Sutton, former state Representative Connie Pillich and Joe Schiavoni are in the race from the Democrats; U.S. Representative Jim Renacci and Secretary of State Jon Husted, Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor and Attorney General Mike DeWine are the Republicans probables.

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