New Youngstown lawmaker's sibling behind push to legalize marijuana

January 31, 2015 at 12:02a.m.

COLUMBUS

The sibling of a state lawmaker is among the investors in an effort to legalize marijuana in the state.

Nanette Lepore, a Youngstown native and younger sister of Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan of Youngstown, D-58th, was among 10 backers announced Friday by ResponsibleOhio, the group behind a proposed marijuana ballot issue.

She’s also the sister-in-law of former state Rep. Bob Hagan of Youngstown, D-58th, who offered legislation in past general assemblies to legalize marijuana for medicinal and other uses.

Lepore is a New York fashion designer who graduated from Youngstown State University.

“This is an incredible opportunity for places like my hometown of Youngstown to generate significant dollars for things like road and bridge repair, which in turn will create thousands of needed jobs,” she said in a released statement. “I’m proud to stand with ResponsibleOhio because it’s the most thoroughly researched and thoughtful method of legalizing marijuana for medical and personal use.”

Other investors announced Friday include former NBA player Oscar Robertson and NFL player Frostee Rucker.

According to Responsi-bleOhio, “Together with additional supporters, these individuals are members of the investment groups created to oversee, manage and operate the 10 marijuana growth, cultivation and extraction facilities.”

ResponsibleOhio’s proposed constitutional amendment would legalize marijuana in Ohio, providing a regulatory structure and specifying where the drug could be produced or sold.

The group plans to submit its initial paperwork on the issue to the attorney general’s office in coming weeks. Once approved, backers can begin collecting the 300,000-plus signatures required to put the amendment before voters.

Four Republican statewide office-holders said earlier this week that they oppose the ballot issue, questioning the creation of a monopoly for the marijuana industry in the state constitution and voicing concern about the impacts of legalizing the drug.