Associated Press
COLUMBUS
Fear of a political backlash is keeping the state Legislature from approving medical marijuana in Ohio, a lawmaker from the Mahoning Valley says.
State Rep. Bob Hagan, D-60th of Youngstown, is co-sponsoring a bill to make Ohio the 15th state to allow medicinal marijuana.
But Hagan said the bill is certain to go nowhere because his colleagues in the Legislature aren’t brave enough to pass it.
He said several conservative Republican lawmakers have privately told him that they support medical marijuana but think it is political suicide to back it publicly.
The bill would let doctor-certified medical marijuana users grow plants, but they would have to be kept in a locked room, greenhouse, garden or other enclosed area out of view.
A 2009 poll conducted by the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati found that 73 percent of Ohio adults favored allowing medical marijuana.
Amanda Wurst, a spokeswoman for Gov. Ted Strickland, said the Democratic governor thinks medical marijuana laws are unnecessary.
“The governor feels that the predominant opinion of the medical community is that there are existing medicines available that provide appropriate patient care,” Wurst said. “So based on that opinion and the current research, he feels this type of legislation doesn’t seem necessary or warranted.”
Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.
Comments
How sad.
"they support medical marijuana but think it is political suicide to back it publicly."
So they WANT to do the right thing, but they're afraid for their jobs? Sounds like not a one of them DESERVE those jobs.
All marijuana is medicinal as it makes the potheads feel good . Too bad that they can't hold jobs when they are stoned .
Makes you wonder how many Republicans were actually in favor of healthcare reform but were afraid to support it publicly due to fear of losing their jobs. It's a shame that most politicians are that way, more concerned about job security than actually trying to promote their agenda. They seem to forget how they got there. At least President Obama is not afraid of losing his job, he has an agenda and is not letting anyone stop him from trying to see it through...good for him and the country.
Obama healthcare is where you pay $1500. if you don't have healthcare . Yep, this will improve the Feds bottom line and do nothing for the person who they confiscated the money from .
I'm having a hard time understanding a politician with better than a third-grade education can consider voting for medical marijuana to be "political suicide" when 78% of voters polled favor it.
Apparently, Mr. Hagan is the only politician around here with any guts. We need to remember who didn't have any guts come election day. I agree with mmyers46--how can it be political suicide? Duh!
What makes anyone think Hagan's telling the truth? It's easy to say that someone said something they didn't. It will probably come out he indeed didn't hear anything good or bad about marijuana from the republicans.
Ohio considers medical marijuana 15 years after California legalized it. That's Ohio, right on schedule.
borylie, my thoughts run along the same line. Hagan has made much out of his scorn for Republicans, never missing a chance to put them down. So now he claim 'his colleagues' have confided in him? Sure, when pigs fly.
I think, when Hagan was recently punched in the jaw for running his mouth, it must have shook what few brains he has loose.