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Sheriff, Prosecutor & Police Chiefs
Open Letter on
Issue 3
On November 3, 2015, you will make a decision on Issue 3 and Issue
2. As you know, this issue will allow marijuana to become more
prevalent in our communities. As the local law enforcement agency
heads, we are writing to ask that you vote NO on Issue 3. This
issue will create a legalized drug cartel in Ohio. This means
they will operate a monopoly on marijuana sales in Ohio. Issue 2 will
stop the monopoly process if Issue 3 passes. Therefore, we ask
that you vote YES on Issue 2 and NO on Issue 3. If Issue 3 passes, we
will see an increase in marijuana related vehicle crashes and a rise in
other crimes that will come as a result of this proposal. This is
just some of what you won’t hear from those who have paid millions to
put this on the ballot.
As we look at the history of marijuana in our community, our State, and
in our Nation, it has most certainly been a hot topic for years.
Contrary to what television ads may say, our local enforcement efforts
are not spent tracking down marijuana smokers. Our enforcement
efforts have been primarily on harder drugs, like heroin or cocaine for
a number of years. Our prisons are not full of people that were
caught holding small amounts of marijuana. In fact, there are
very few in our State’s prisons that are incarcerated for the primary
offense of possessing marijuana. Law enforcement typically gets
involved with a marijuana user or dealer because they have made
themselves known to us by violating laws.
Beyond this proposal, look south of our border into Mexico. Drug
cartels in Mexico, who ship thousands of pounds of marijuana to the
United States each year have made a several billion dollar profit from
users in North America. So, our answer is to legalize marijuana
and that will solve our drug issues? This argument doesn’t make
sense. Cartels already have figured out that there are States
willing to legalize marijuana and this will take some of their
profits. Instead, they began sending heroin to our country to
poison our communities. Now, we have allowed a few to begin to
change the face of American values. The argument is that as long
as you use marijuana responsibly, it should be okay. So, who is
left to investigate those who don’t use marijuana responsibly?
Who pays for their treatment when they can’t hold a job or have health
insurance?
As voters, you have a right to say no to something that will not be a
good thing for our State. We ask that you investigate this issue
further and become familiar with why we strongly oppose it. For
example, did you know that convicted felons could own their own
marijuana shop? Did you know that there will be no regulations on
mixing marijuana into candies or food products? The average THC
(the most active ingredient of marijuana) levels in edibles can reach
as high as 12-15%. The modern processing of marijuana has made
the potency of it much higher than what was previously accustomed to in
the 1970’s as an example. Today’s hybrid versions, which includes
extracting the oils from the plants can have THC levels as high as
90%. These oils can be then used in today’s smoking instruments
that are more commonly used for tobacco products. So, if you are
a parent or grandparent, are you prepared to allow your
child/grandchild to visit at a friend’s house in the future not knowing
if they will be potentially ingesting something containing
marijuana? If you are a business owner, are you prepared for the
effects of this on the workforce? Local business owners already
know that finding quality employees can sometimes be challenging.
Smoking marijuana will not improve someone’s likelihood of being
employed.
The proponents of this issue want to sway your vote because they stand
to make millions if the vote goes their way. How will this vote
affect you and your family? If you don’t know the answers,
we ask that you educate yourself and vote NO on issue 3! By
voting NO, you will join others that include: Ohio School Boards
Association, Ohio State Medical Association, Ohio Manufacturers’
Association, Ohio Farm Bureau, Ohio Prosecutors Association, Ohio
Coroner’s Association, Ohio Chamber of Commerce, Ohio Council of Retail
Merchants, the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police, Buckeye State Sheriff’s
Association, Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police, the Drug Free Action
Alliance, and many more organizations and agencies throughout our great
State. Help us take a stand! Be a part of the movement that
stands on the facts that drug use is not good for our
State.
Sheriff Toby L. Spencer, Darke County
Chief Dennis L. Butts, Greenville
Chief Andrew D. Ashbaugh, Arcanum
Chief Chester F. Banks, New Madison
Chief Mark E. Humphreys, Versailles
Chief David A. McHenry, Union City, Ohio
Chief Frank N. Shapiro, Ansonia
Prosecuting Attorney R. Kelly Ormsby, III
To download the original letter, click here
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