Wood County Prevention Coalition
Uniting For A Drug-Free Community Since 2004
In Colorado, a county revolts against legalized marijuana
GLOBE STAFF SEPTEMBER 06, 2016
PUEBLO WEST, Colo. — Out here, in this unincorporated community of 30,000, there are miles of barren scrub-brush dotted with wild sunflowers. Low-slung houses sit on East Gun Powder Lane and North Cougar Drive. There’s a Walmart Supercenter, a Little Caesars, a Safeway with a small Starbucks tucked inside.
And, throughout the area, a revolt against retail marijuana sales smolders in a state awash in $1 billion of legal pot.
Four years ago, Coloradans voted to legalize marijuana for adults, and gave individual localities the opportunity to decide if they would allow retail marijuana shops.
But after local officials here welcomed the new industry, anti-marijuana activists in Pueblo County gathered enough signatures to force an unprecedented question on the November ballot: whether to terminate recreational marijuana sales and operations.
The Pueblo campaign comes just as Massachusetts and four other states are poised to vote on marijuana legalization Nov. 8. The debate in Colorado serves as a cautionary tale about the ambivalence of a community that has lived with legal marijuana and its myriad consequences, negative and positive.
Backers of the Pueblo repeal effort say retail marijuana shops and farms have brought increased vagrancy, crime, and an undesirable reputation as the pot capital of southern Colorado. Supporters of the status quo say the new industry has helped revitalize an area that has long struggled economically.
Ohio's medical marijuana law goes in effect Thursday, but no pot for two years
By Alan Johnson
The Columbus Dispatch • Tuesday September 6, 2016 7:37 PM
Medical marijuana becomes legal Thursday in Ohio. But there are just a few problems. There are no marijuana crops because there are no growers. There are no processors, testing labs or dispensaries to sell a product that doesn't yet exist.
And even if all those things were in place, patients would have to get a "recommendation" (a prescription is illegal under federal law) from a physician. No Ohio physicians have been certified by the state to recommend medical marijuana to patients.
And so the wait begins, up to two years, while rules are worked out, employees hired and licenses issued.
While the law does not specify that people with qualifying medical conditions must obtain marijuana in Ohio, that is the presumption, said Mike Griffaton, an attorney with the Vorys law firm in Columbus.
"I believe the law was clear that it's supposed to be a closed-loop system, born and bred in Ohio," Griffaton said.
Sen. Dave Burke, R-Marysville, a sponsor of the marijuana legislation, said the law does not dictate where people may buy medical marijuana.
But buying it in other states where it is legally available, including Michigan and Colorado, would be difficult, experts say. Marijuana remains illegal as a controlled substance under federal law, although the feds have taken a hands-off approach as more states legalize it. Ohio is the 25th state, plus the District of Columbia, to do so.
No Wrong Door AND Cost of Poverty Experience
There will be a No Wrong Door Training combined with COPE (Cost of Poverty Experience) on Friday, September 23, 2016, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., held at Wood County Educational Service Center, 1867 N. Research Drive, Bowling Green, OH.
Did you know ---
There are over 18,000 people in Wood County living below the Federal Poverty Level (twice the number of people since 2004).
There are another 18,000 living below 200% of Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Combined, that’s nearly 1/3 of the Wood County Population of almost 130,000, or 36,000 people struggling financially - right here in Wood County, Ohio.
Of these, nearly 7,500 are children living in poverty or financially depressed circumstances in Wood County.
[Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census – ACS (2015c)]
The September 23rd training is an excellent opportunity to learn about a broad range of service and supports for residents of Wood County, as well as to develop a better understanding of the struggles and complications of life experienced by the many people living in poverty or financial distress.
This event is sponsored by the Family & Children First Council of Wood County – a collaborative group of child & family serving organizations of Wood County.
To register for the No Wrong Door/COPE training on September 23rd – simply call Wood County Educational Service Center at 419-354-9010.
The cost is only $10, payable at the training.
Heroin/Opiate Awareness Discussion at BGSU
WCPC Community Meeting with Tobacco 21 (Please RSVP below if you have not done so)
Wood County Prevention Coalition Meeting
Friday, Sep 16, 2016, 08:30 AM
Wood County Educational Service Center 1867 N Research Drive, Bowling Green, OH, United States
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
About Us
Our Vision: Helping youth be drug-free, productive and responsible citizens.
Our Mission: We are a coalition of compassionate community members working together to coordinate high quality programs for the prevention of youth substance abuse in Wood County.
Email: mkarna@wcesc.org
Website: wcprevention.org
Location: 1867 Research Drive, Bowling Green, OH, United States
Phone: (419)-354-9010
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WCPCoalition
Twitter: @woodpccoalition