142 Clergymen encourage Ohioans to VOTE NO for Marijuana Issue 2: ‘Don’t let Buckeye State get lost in weeds’ (VIDEO) (SLIDESHOW)

MANSFIELD –Four pastors with law enforcement backgrounds are warning that Recreational Marijuana is addictive, habit-forming, and will adversely impact self-control. Not only will legalizing the psychoactive drug make it easier for organized crime to operate, a large group of faith leaders say there will be even greater repercussions to the culture if Issue 2 passes.

“As key stakeholders representing one hundred forty-two diverse congregations from twenty counties, we support vibrant communities, and believe legalization of Recreational Marijuana will radically disrupt the health and safety of our culture,” says Elder Moe Hill, former highway patrolman now faith leader.

“As the general public becomes desensitized to drug abuse, the next generation ultimately will become desensitized to right and wrong.  GOD has provided many helpful medicines which come from trees and plants, but the Bible plainly states there was one tree in the Garden which was forbidden to eat from.  In other words, there are natural products that can be toxic, including Marijuana” Elder Hill said at a press conference. 

According to an open letter signed by lead clergymen from around the state, the rap sheet on cannabis is long.  “For over fifty-years the federal government has classified Marijuana as a Schedule 1 substance because of its high potential for abuse. Whether it is flying a plane, driving a car, or navigating life, Marijuana decimates a person’s self-control.  It cognitively impairs its users by reducing reaction time, decreasing the ability to focus, and increasing risk-taking behavior.  And if that is not enough, this illicit drug, which is more potent than ever, alters the user’s mind and is associated with Schizophrenia and insomnia,” the clergy said.

Pastor Joseph Yerger added, “As the Bible says in Proverbs 25, ‘Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls.” 

One Morrow County Sheriff’s Deputy almost lost his life in 2010 when uncovering a clandestine Marijuana-growing operation.  Irrationally guarding his 1,700 Marijuana plants, a psychotic landowner shot Detective Brandon Moore four times.  Shane Roush was later convicted for attempted murder and felonious assault.

Pastor Steve Brenneman commented, “Issue 2 is bad for Ohio. I was Sheriff when Deputy Brandon Moore was shot and I was at the scene. With thirty-four years in law enforcement, eleven as Sheriff, I have seen first hand the devastating effects of Marijuana and how it has torn families apart. Marijuana will not release people from the problems of life, it will add to them. The only thing that will release depressed people from their problems is Jesus Christ.”

The clergy also cited in their open letter a recent case where one Cuyahoga County teenager, smoking Marijuana, intentionally drove her car 100 mph into a wall, killing her boyfriend and acquaintance.  She was convicted of four counts of murder this past summer.

Pastor Robert Kurtz says not only does Marijuana negatively impact the judgement of its users, it also adversely impacts the executive functions of the brain, decreasing reaction time.

“The American Automobile Association took ten years of data from Washington State which legalized Recreational Marijuana in 2012.  They found the percentage of THC-Positive drivers doubled after recreational use was legalized, and fatal crashes involving drivers who tested positive for Marijuana also increased two-fold.”

The Ohio faith community has consistently led the way in providing drug treatment ministries and opposing the use of Marijuana.  In 2017, Richland County clergymen representing seventy congregations successfully prevented the harvesting and dispensing of Marijuana. In 2022, lead clergymen representing one-hundred-ten congregations from nine different counties publicly opposed the state legalization of Recreational Marijuana.

Listed clergy co-signers have congregations located in 20 counties throughout Ohio.  Counties with the most congregations represented included: Richland (82), Ashland (9), Crawford (9), Trumbull (9), Wayne (7), Huron (4), Stark (4), Knox (3), Morrow (3).

“In 2015, Ohioans overwhelmingly opposed the legalization of Recreational Marijuana,” says Elder Hill. “Now this Fall on Tuesday, November 7th, we encourage Ohioans to do the same and “VOTE NO” on Issue 2. Do not let the Buckeye State get lost in the weeds.”

The Bottom Line:

“The Bible says in Luke Chapter Six, “Every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.”

View the slideshow below from Frontlines Ohio of the clergy press conference from Wednesday, October 4th opposing Issue 2 Recreational Marijuana.

View the video below from Frontlines Ohio of the clergy press conference from Wednesday, October 4th opposing Issue 2 Recreational Marijuana. (Video 22 min.)

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