© 2024 Ideastream Public Media

1375 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115
(216) 916-6100 | (877) 399-3307

WKSU is a public media service licensed to Kent State University and operated by Ideastream Public Media.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
News
To contact us with news tips, story ideas or other related information, e-mail newsstaff@ideastream.org.

State Lawmakers Want Public Input on Medical Marijuana

State Sen. Kenny Yuko, left, and State Sen. David Burke speak at a news conference. (Andy Chow / Statehouse News Bureau)
State Sen. Kenny Yuko, left, and State Sen. David Burke speak at a news conference.

by Jo Ingles

With lawmakers in the Ohio House forming a task force to deal with medicinal marijuana, two state senators who have different perspectives on medical pot are trying a different approach to see what Ohioans think about the issue. 

Republican State Sen. David Burke is a pharmacist. 

“I remain a skeptic to the medical benefits of marijuana,” he said.

Democratic State Sen. Kenny Yuko, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, is a believer in medical marijuana. 

“My hindrance in the past has been cooperation from my colleagues,” Yuko said. “I’m getting their cooperation now.”  

Yuko and Burke will hold meetings in three cities during the next couple of months to see what Ohioans want in a medical marijuana proposal. The lawmakers say that feedback will be used to develop legislation. Meanwhile, the Ohio House has a task force working on the issue.