Some East Ohio Communities Vote To Reduce Marijuana Penalties
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Residents in Martins Ferry, Yorkville, Rayland and Tiltonsville approved an ordinance that will decrease the penalty for misdemeanor marijuana offenses.
The unofficial results of Tuesday's election came in close with four local communities voting in favor of the ordinance that will remove local penalties for those possessing less than 200 grams, or about 7 ounces, of marijuana.
The ordinance appeared on the ballot in Belmont County communities including Martins Ferry, Brookside, Morristown, Powhatan Point and a portion of Yorkville; and in Jefferson County communities including Dillonvale, Mt Pleasant, Rayland, Tiltonsville and Yorkville.
The "sensible marijuana" ordinance passed in Martins Ferry in a 435-404 decision, in Yorkville 81-66, in Tiltonsville 165-153 and in Rayland 72-47.
Voters in Brookside, Powhatan Point, Morristown, Dillonvale, and Mt. Pleasant declined to pass the ordinance though it was a close call in a couple of the villages including Brookside, where it failed to pass 76-74, according to the unofficial results.
The measure also failed in other communities by the following margins:
– Powhatan Point 123-86
– Morristown 27-24
– Dillonvale 59-44
– Mt. Pleasant 66-47
Bill Schmitt Jr. of Bellaire, founder of the Sensible Movement Coalition and user of marijuana for a medical condition, held petition drives to have the ordinances placed on the ballots in the nine communities. His group has had success in decriminalizing marijuana in 22 municipalities in Ohio over the past six years, including in Bellaire, Adena, Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo. The ordinance was approved in Bellaire in 2016.
Schmitt said he is happy the residents in the communities voted to approve the ordinance.
"I appreciate the people using their vote as a voice to change their local law," he said.
For the communities that declined to pass the ordinance, Schmitt said he will continue to work to have the ordinance placed on the ballot.
"I will be back next year to get this back on the ballot in all the cities that have lost as well as in St. Clairsville, Shadyside, Bridgeport, Flushing and Brilliant," he said.
Scmitt added that he feels those in the Ohio Valley are in favor of legalizing marijuana.
Martins Ferry Police Chief John McFarland previously said he opposed the ordinance, stating that he is "100 percent against making marijuana, or any other drug, legal."
Belmont County Sheriff David Lucas could not be reached for comment.