LIMA — The League of Women Voters officially came out with endorsements of the three state issues at its meeting Monday, encouraging voters to vote “yes” on Issues 1 and 2 while voting “no” on Issue 3.
LWV president Millie Hughes said the endorsements are mainly based on effects on the state constitution for the endorsements.
Issue 1 would create a new process for drawing state congressional maps in what supporters have said creates a more bipartisan process. While it is a complex issue, the issue essentially would limit congressional maps to lasting four years if they did not have bipartisan support on a newly formed committee.
Issue 2 was passed by the state assembly to counter what is said to be a monopoly in state Issue 3. Issue 2 would essentially prevent a monopoly being created for financial gain.
Issue 3 seeks to approve recreational and medical marijuana use in the state, but would limit producers to 10 preapproved growing and retailing sites.
“We are not coming out about marijuana use because the league has not studied marijuana and if it is bad or good,” Hughes said, “but we have studied the constitutional effects.
Hughes said the pro-Issue 3 lobby, mainly Responsible Ohio, has claimed it will spend $20 million paid for by the designated areas that will see the financial benefit of Issue 3.
Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce president Jed Metzger also said his organization has asked voters to vote “yes” on Issues 1 and 2 while asking voters to vote “no” on Issue 3. The endorsements were based largely on feedback from chamber members.
Metzger said that voters were against recreational marijuana use being allowed in the state by a 92 percent to 8 percent margin, while they were against medicinal use at a small 60 percent to 40 percent margin.
He said employers designated employee productivity, reliable employees, higher costs in testing, liability risks and employee tardiness as their major concerns.
Metzger added that he has heard many farmers say they were in support of Issue 3 because of potential income.
“There will be very few designated places that can grow it,” Metzger said.
Former state Rep. Matt Huffman briefly spoke on Issue 1, asking for voters to support it, agreeing that the issue will create bipartisanship in redrawing district maps in the state.
