Ohio voters could see 2 medical marijuana issues

COLUMBUS (AP) — Backers of a medical marijuana amendment in Ohio say they aren’t deterred by a separate ballot effort already under way to legalize the substance for medical purposes.

The Ohio Medical Cannabis Association was recently cleared by state officials to circulate petitions for their amendment to appear on fall ballots.

The proposal would allow authorized vendors to make and distribute the otherwise illegal drug and set up a state oversight commission. It also spells out patients’ privacy and confidentiality rights.

A separate measure cleared last year by officials specifies how much marijuana people could possess, and it doesn’t set up a commission.

Both amendments need about 385,000 valid signatures to appear before voters in November.

Sixteen states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana’s medical use to treat certain illness.