Ohio Supreme Court Justice: Legalize Marijuana, Free Nonviolent Marijuana Offenders from Prison

Ohio Supreme Court Justice: Legalize Marijuana, Free Nonviolent Marijuana Offenders from Prison

Ohio Supreme Court Justice Jim O’Neil says the state should legalize marijuana,

O’Neil, who is the sole Democrat holding statewide office in Ohio, also says that the state should release those in prison who were placed there based on nonviolent marijuana-related offenses.

“The time has come for new thinking,” O’Neill said in a recent speech. “We regulate and tax alcohol and tobacco and imprison people for smoking grass.”

O’Neil says that doing this would generate roughly $350 million in new revenue for the state, which could be used to create a statewide mental health network, and to combat drug addition.

Earlier this year O’Neil announced that he may step down and run for governor in 2018. He plans to make the decision by the end of the year.