About the Ohio Medical Cannabis Association

Who We Are and What We Stand For

The Ohio Medical Cannabis Association was formed with one goal in mind: getting seriously ill Ohioans the medical rights they need. We believe this best way to achieve this is through amending the Ohio Constitution to extend existing rights to people who truly need medical marijuana and creating a commission to protect these rights and oversee the process.

The Amendment

The Ohio Medical Cannabis Amendment of 2012 is a proposed citizen-initiated amendment to the state constitution. It is based on eight rights already established in the Bill of Rights within the Ohio Constitution. The amendment also establishes the Ohio Commission of Cannabis Control to support, uphold and defend these rights, and to regulate medical cannabis in Ohio.

What Rights?

The authors of the Bill of Rights, both in the Ohio and US constitutions, recognize that inalienable rights like life, liberty and happiness belong to the people. Often, little thought is given to how these rights apply to medical treatment until friends or family become gravely sick or disabled.

In many of the 16 states that have already have a medical marijuana law, there is not a clear statement of their state's citizens right to access, utilize, and provide medical marijuana. This leads to loopholes that politicians sometimes use to undermine the spirit of their amendment and the will of their citizens. By clearly stating the rights of patients and providers, Ohio residents will be empowered to challenge attempts to undercut their rights.

Why now?

The most important reason we need this law now is Ohioans are suffering needlessly right now. Some will choose to ignore the law and put themselves or their families at legal risk, a stress they surely don't need. Others, unwilling or unable to break the law, will continue to suffer until this law passes and others won't live to see it happen.

There are many other reasons why Ohio should vote on medical cannabis in 2012:

• Polls show that about 3 in 4 Ohioans already support medical cannabis. A majority of Ohioans across all racial, educational and political classifications support it as well.
• 90 million Americans already have this right and Ohioans should too.
• Every state bordering Ohio already has a medical cannabis law or has one currently in the legislature.
• Some regions of Ohio are facing an epidemic of pain pill addictions and overdoses. Making cannabis available for serious medical conditions provides a safer alternative.

What about the legislative route?

In Ohio and Washington, DC, most politicians remain out of step with voters on this issue. Four bills have been introduced in Ohio in the past decade, but none of them have come close to reaching an up or down vote. When politicians refuse to act, the ballot initiative becomes the key to making sure Ohio's laws match our values.

Who is behind the amendment?

The Ohio Medical Cannabis Association is a non-partisan group of citizens from all walks of life, united in their belief that sick, dying and disabled patients should have access to medical cannabis to alleviate their suffering. We hope to bring a new energy to the medical cannabis movement while tapping the wisdom and effort of Ohio's reform veterans.

The leaders of this effort include Theresa Daniello, a mother of five, Mark Ramach, the campaign's general counsel and Mary Jane Borden, a drug policy expert.