Pot Farms Proposed in Ohio

Under a proposed constitutional amendment some counties in Ohio could soon house marijuana growing farms.

If the issue passes and makes the ballot one such site would be built on 35 acres of land in Licking County. The site in Pataskala is just a few minutes drive from Licking Heights High School.

This farm as well as nine others would be owned by companies investing in the ballot issue in order to make a profit from the industry. One drug expert said legalizing the farms lead to questions about public safety, effects on the workplace and environment.

“They’re finding high contamination of water, waterways near pot farms, especially in the medical marijuana states where they actually have big huge farms,” said Executive Director of Muskingum County Behavioral Health Steve Carrel.

The proposed amendment would also include retail outlets and medical marijuana dispensaries. To have marijuana a person would need to be over 21. Carrel said if you use states like Colorado that have legalized pot as a benchmark expect to see those under age involved with the drug.

“They’re seeing increases in young children going to the emergency room because they consume pot that was in the home and wasn’t secured. They’re seeing increase in traffic deaths for people testing positive for pot,” said Carrel. “More and more studies are being done now because of legalization of marijuana and the list goes on.”

To make the ballot Responsible Ohio, the group backing the amendment, would need to collect 305,000 signatures. The language of the amendment will be submitted to Attorney General Mike DeWine later this month. Governor John Kasich has said he opposes the amendment.