Ohio school district, police join to battle pot farm

MONROE, Ohio — A proposed marijuana farm near this city's largest school is an unwelcome contradiction to decades of anti-drug student programs, complain school and police officials who are banding together to boost anti-drug campaigns.

Monroe Schools Superintendent Phil Cagwin said he will be "very disappointed" if Ohio voters were to approve the legalization of marijuana and permit a marijuana farm to operate 1.5 miles from Monroe's combined elementary and high school.

"In our schools, we do what we can to educate our children about the potential dangers of these drugs and also for other high-risk behaviors," said the leader of the Butler County school system, which enrolls 2,600 students in this community of about 13,061, according to the U.S. Census' 2013 estimate. Monroe is about 31 miles northeast of Cincinnati.

If pro-legalization groups are able to get the marijuana issue on the fall ballot, a 40-acre farm site in Middletown could become one of 10 Ohio sites allowed to grow pot. Supporters must gather nearly 306,000 signatures by July to reach qualify for the November ballot.

Two other Southwest Ohio marijuana farm sites also could be located in Hamilton and Clermont counties.

Cagwin said Monroe schools have joined a recently formed coalition — Monroe Community Action Support Team (MCAST) — consisting of local community groups, churches and Monroe police. All share concerns about the pot legalization prospect and the proposed farm nearby.

Together they are scrambling to create a pre-emptive, public education program aimed at dissuading youth who might think legalization lessens marijuana's dangers.

Officials with ResponsibleOhio — which is backing the proposed state initiative — want the public to remember that legalization of marijuana would be for adults only.

"Marijuana has many medical uses, and can be used responsibly by adults 21 and older for personal reasons," said Lydia Bolander, spokeswoman for ResponsibleOhio.

"Marijuana is in our communities now, but black market drug dealers have no incentive to ask for an ID or ensure that their customers are over 21," Bolander said. "Under ResponsibleOhio's proposal, marijuana will be legal for personal use only by adults 21 years of age and older, and there will be strict penalties — including jail time — for anyone who doesn't follow the law."

If approved by voters in November, Ohio would become the fifth state — plus Washington, D.C. — to legalize marijuana for recreational use.

Monroe Police Chief Robert Buchanan, who also is involved in the effort to boost anti-drug campaigns, said "our goal has been to identify and focus on issues that have a negative impact on our society, such as underage drinking and drug abuse."

Buchanan declined to comment about the proposed farm, saying the initial stages of the push to put the statewide initiative on Ohio's ballot hasn't produced enough details.

Contributing: Chrissie Thompson, The Cincinnati Enquirer.