5 things to know about effort to legalize marijuana in Ohio

Two men who put the question of marijuana legalization before Ohio voters in 2015 plan to do it again in 2018.

Backers of the new marijuana issue say they’ll write the amendment and seek approval in early January to begin collecting the required 306,000 valid voter signatures by July 4. They said their “free market adult consumption of marijuana” constitutional amendment would not interfere with Ohio’s new medical marijuana program, which is currently being established.

Here are five things we know about their latest plan.

1. Marijuana would be regulated like alcohol: adults 21 and older would be allowed to home grow and consume it and licensed businesses would be allowed to grow and sell it.

2. Local governments would be able to limit commercial operations and landlords and employers would be able to prohibit use by tenants or workers.

3. Farmers would be permitted to grow industrial hemp.

4. Commercial operations would face regulations such as required lab testing, seed-to-sale tracking and a prohibition on locating within 500 feet of schools, day care centers, libraries, playgrounds or places of worship.

5. Smoking marijuana or using marijuana products would be prohibited in any public place and operating a motor vehicle under the influence would be illegal.

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