Ohio politics podcast: Abortion makes the ballot but marijuana falls short

Anna Staver, Columbus Dispatch
·2 min read
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June 23, 2023; Columbus, Oh., USA; Young cannabis plants are individually tagged and watered under the grow lights of PharmaCann, Inc.'s cultivation and processing facility at Buckeye Lake.The cannabis industry opposes Senate Bill 9, which would revamp the state's medical program, saying there is an oversupply of cannabis in Ohio for the medical marijuana program.

Ohioans will be voting on abortion in November, but the proposal to regulate marijuana like alcohol fell short of its signature requirements to make the ballot. However, it still has a chance to make the ballot.

We break down what it all means in this week's episode of Ohio Politics Explained. A podcast from the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau to catch you up on the state's political news in 15 minutes or less.

This week, host Anna Staver was joined by reporter Laura Bischoff.

Abortion access makes the ballot

Ohioans will decide whether they want to enshrine abortion protections in the state constitution this November. Supporters of access to this procedure gathered enough valid signatures to put the issue before voters.

The proposed amendment would give people the right to make their own "reproductive decisions," which includes things like using contraception, fertility treatments and abortion.

Supporters say this is the Roe standard because lawmakers could impose certain restrictions on abortions after fetal viability. But opponents say the amendment would eliminate almost all of Ohio's abortion laws, even parental consent.

Marijuana supporters fall short for now

The campaign to regulate marijuana like alcohol didn't collect enough valid signatures to make November's ballot, but that doesn't mean they won't be on it.

Supporters of recreational cannabis have 10 days to gather 679 more valid signatures. It's called a cure period, and if the group is successful the issue will go before voters this fall.

Governor DeWine calls Circleville incident a 'wake-up call'

After watching the video of a Circleville police officer releasing his K-9 on an unarmed man, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine told reporters that more police training is needed in Ohio.

"This incident in Circleville should be a lesson, a wake-up call to everyone that police training in the state of Ohio is not equal," DeWine said.

He proposed constructing a scenario-based training facility as part of the upcoming capital budget and "guaranteed funds" so departments could use this facility at little to no cost.

Support for gun control

A poll released this week by Suffolk University and the USA TODAY Network Ohio bureau showed that most Buckeye voters support mandating universal background checks, training for concealed carry licenses and safe storage laws.

Democrats responded by calling on the legislature to listen to the will of the people and enact "common sense" gun reforms. Republicans said some of the laws proposed by Democrats are "constitutionally questionable" and that support for these kinds of gun control would drop if voters knew the details of each specific proposal.

Listen to "Ohio Politics Explained" on Spotify, Apple, Google Podcasts and TuneIn Radio. The episode is also available by clicking the link in this article.

The USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau serves The Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio politics podcast: Voters will decide abortion access in November