Law enforcement officials said Thursday that enforcing low-level marijuana law violations is not a priority, and a ballot measure that would legalize marijuana would create more problems for Ohio police, sheriffs, state troopers and prosecutors.
Jay McDonald, president of the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio, said the drug crime task force he leads does not target marijuana users.
“The marijuana users today who encounter law enforcement do so out of traffic stops or calls to their homes for other reasons,” McDonald said at a news conference held at FOP headquarters.
Ohio reduced penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana in the 1970s. In Ohio, a “decriminalized” state, possessing up to 100 grams of marijuana is a minor misdemeanor, which carries no jail time and is punishable by a maximum fine of $150. That amount of marijuana can be used to make as many as 100 joints.
Possession of more than 100 grams but less than 200 grams is a misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum sentence of 30 days imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250.
In 2012, state lawmakers revised laws regarding paraphernalia, so if someone is caught with less than 100 grams of marijuana and a pipe or rolling papers, neither offense initiates a criminal record.
McDonald said his task force and others around the state target their limited resources on felony crimes.
“People who believe that our prisons are full of people who are there because they had a joint in their pocket — they’re mistaken, they’ve been given bad information,” McDonald said.
Issue 3 on the November ballot would legalize marijuana sales and use for adults age 21 and older. Commercial marijuana could only be grown at 10 sites belonging to investors in ResponsibleOhio, the political action committee backing the issue. Ohioans could grow up to four flowering marijuana plants at home, out of public view, after obtaining a $50 license.
Issue 3 would allow Ohioans to possess up to 1 ounce of purchased marijuana — about 28 grams — and up to 8 ounces of homegrown marijuana — about 224 grams.
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