DeWine studying possible medical-marijuana plan

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

Attorney General Mike DeWine said Friday he’s studying the plausibility of a tightly crafted medical-marijuana proposal, as much broader initiatives head toward Ohio voters.

With the state debating whether to legalize marijuana, it’s logical to explore what the alternatives are, said DeWine, a Republican who opposes making recreational marijuana legal.

As long as assurances against abuse are in place, “I know there’s a lot of people who might be for medical marijuana,” DeWine said.

DeWine said it’s worth studying what is happening in other states when it comes to medical marijuana, something he’s ordered his office to explore.

He pointed to the experience in Colorado, where concerns have arisen about the interaction between that state’s recreational marijuana law and its medical-marijuana law.

On Monday, Colorado’s governor signed into law a crackdown on medical marijuana, one of two measures designed to ferret out people improperly using and selling untaxed marijuana.

DeWine stopped short of saying his goal is to undercut the widespread legalization of the drug in Ohio or what form a proposal might take. “Stay tuned,” he said.