Ryan Ottney (D)

2020 Voter Guide Questionnaire

1. Do you support or oppose changing state law to allow adults 21 and older to possess limited amounts of marijuana and establishing a system in which marijuana is regulated and taxed similarly to alcohol? Under such a system, it would remain illegal to consume marijuana in public and drive under the influence of marijuana.

I do support legislation to decriminalize marijuana for recreational use among adults, age 21 and older, with similar restrictions that we currently apply to alcohol and tobacco.

2. Other states which legalized medical cannabis around the same time as Ohio have programs that are further ahead and functioning much better than Ohio’s. The patients of Ohio have expressed concerns and are generally dissatisfied with the program. Can the patients count on you to spend time on making improvements to the medical marijuana program?

We should not be limiting access to patients who could benefit from the use of marijuana, especially when used under medical supervision.

3. If an amendment to H.B.523 were proposed that would allow patients and/or caregivers to grow a limited amount of plants in their home, would you support or oppose the amendment?

I support the recreational use of marijuana and home growth, just as people would grow any other crop they consume.

4. If introduced, would you oppose a resolution that would make the citizen ballot initiative process more difficult than it already is?

Our society is governed by those elected by the people to represent them, and we should listen to citizens when they ask their chosen representatives to consider legislation.