LIMA — The Allen County Association of Chiefs of Police were the most recent of many local law enforcement groups to officially encourage voters to vote no on Issue 3, which would legalize medicinal and recreational marijuana in the state of Ohio.
Several members of the association were present Thursday as the group made the official announcement at the Fraternal Order of Police building in Lima.
Bluffton Police Chief Rick Skilliter said law enforcement officials have become concerned about the issue, which would amend the state constitution if passed. He spoke of initial effects legalized marijuana is having in Colorado, which took effect in January 2014.
“There has been an increase in marijuana-related deaths,” Skilliter said. “It is more available to children, and the potency is more costing on people’s bodies. We encourage people to become more informed about this issue.”
Lt. Brian Winegardner also spoke on the possibility of legalizing marijuana in Ohio, saying it would increase impaired driving offenses. Lima Police Chief Kevin Martin added that people need to look at the issue and educate themselves to make a more informed choice at the polls.
“There are a lot of myths out there,” Martin said. “A lot of people think this is only about medical use of marijuana.”
Martin pointed out several other points. He said the state of Washington has seen an increase in impaired driving of 51 percent. In Colorado it went up 34 percent. He said areas were seeing a marijuana addiction rate in 12- to 18-year-olds of about one in seven, roughly the same as alcohol. He said more study has to be done on its medical use before being legalized.
“Crack relieves pain,” Martin said, “but you don’t see doctors prescribing it. This law does nothing to promote research of its medical use. There has to be more time to let science into the equation.”
Martin also said that statements that law enforcement want to see the issue turned down because of loss of revenue has no basis in fact. He said areas are actually seeing an increase in revenue from arrests because of impaired driving incidents.
“This is only a safety issue to law enforcement,” Martin said.
Martin added that he understands arguments of alcohol or tobacco being legal, but he said that “there is no reason to add another problem to the equation.”
“Tobacco and alcohol have become ingrained into society, and they are tough to remove now,” Martin said. “No need to add something else.”
Martin added that there is a certain sense of hypocrisy on the issue as well, as many people that have fought to make tobacco use more stringent have came out in favor of recreational marijuana use.
“The science of these issues needs to be studied,” Martin said.
While reports have varied, a 2007 study by the American Chemical Society reported that marijuana smoke contained significantly higher levels of several toxic compounds, including ammonia and hydrogen cyanide, than tobacco smoke. The study found that ammonia levels were 20 times higher in marijuana smoke, while hydrogen cyanide, nitric oxide and certain aromatic amines occurred at levels 3 to 5 times higher.
