Students advocate for drug policy reformed

Medical marijuana is still a subject of much controversy in the Ohio.

On November 3, 2015, Issue 3 was purposed on the ballot. The issue proposed that the plant be legalized, but with limited sale and usage giving 10 facilities the exclusive commercial right to grow marijuana. The issue was turned down at the polls as 63.65 percent of voters voted against it.

The failure of Issue 3 hasn’t deterred supporters of the legalization of marijuana.

“People are very excited about the idea of specifically legalizing cannabis,” junior philosophy major Elise Szabo said.

Szabo is the president of the Kent chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy. The student run organization was founded in 1998 and works to end the war on drugs.

“It’s difficult to get people to get involved,” Szabo said. “It’s strange to me that if you care so much about an issue you would hesitate to take action and be involved in the political process of making or legalizing cannabis or whatever issue you might be passionate about.”

For SSDP it’s about promoting a safe way to indulge in drug or alcohol use.

“We can’t eliminate drug use,” Szabo said. “But we can try to save the lives of people who are in medical emergencies from drug use or underage drinking.”

Currently, marijuana is illegal in the state of Ohio. The law states that possession of less than 100 grams (3.5 ounces) giving 20 grams or less of marijuana to another person, or growing less than 100 grams of marijuana are each considered “minor misdemeanors,” punishable by a maximum fine of $150. SSDP has become one of many groups to actively push for the laws to be reformed.

Szabo believes the one thing that may prevent the drug from ever becoming legal is it will be taken over by money driven corporations.

“The activist community is very people oriented,” Szabo said. “(When it came to Issue 3) we didn’t want the power to stay in the hands of a few corporations.”

SSDP plans to work with Legalize Ohio 2016 in the near future.

The group, also known as Ohioans to End Prohibition, announced in early January that it planned to propose a constitutional amendment entitled the “Cannabis Control Amendment.”

Like Issue 3 the amendment would legalize marijuana. Unlike Issue 3 the amendment would not limit production to specific individuals or companies.

Instead the proposed amendment would legalize the sale and usage of both recreational and medical marijuana and allow farmers to grow marijuana.

The organization is proposing the amendment for the November 2016 ballot with hopes that with more power in the hands of the people it will pass.

“I’m optimistic that it will happen,” Szabo said. “I can’t predict when it will happen, but I’m optimistic that is willing.”