Position Statement on Ohio Issue 1, Drug and Criminal Justice Policies Initiative (2018)

Adopted September 19, 2018
While the Tri-County Board of Recovery and Mental Health Services generally supports efforts to identify individuals using illegal substances and get them into treatment, rather than incarceration, the Board nevertheless must oppose Ohio Issue 1, Drug and Criminal Justice Policies Initiative, on the following grounds:
 
  • The Board opposes the use of the constitutional amendment process for the purpose of modifying criminal sentencing guidelines and related statutes. These matters should be addressed in Ohio Revised Code via the deliberative, legislative process within the Ohio General Assembly.
  • Courts, especially certified Specialty Docket Drug Courts, have been successful in addressing many of the aims of Issue 1, and are most successful when the Courts, Prosecutors and Law Enforcement Officials can exercise flexibility and discretion while maintaining oversight and local accountability.
  • While the Board agrees that public funding of drug treatment, crime victim, and rehabilitation programs is a better use of public dollars than incarceration, nevertheless indexing such spending to “savings due to a reduction of inmates” is unlikely to result in significant new funds for treatment programs.

Position Statement on Legalization of Marijuana in Ohio

Adopted September 16, 2015
The Tri-County Board of Recovery and Mental Health Services opposes the legalization and commercialization of marijuana for recreational purposes. The Board also opposes the constitutional amendment process for the purpose of legalizing the personal use of marijuana, designation of growth sites, and designation of testing facilities.

Legalizing marijuana for medical use should not be decided by legislative or voter initiative. Marijuana should be subject to the same research, consideration, and study as any other potential medicine, under the standards of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Resolutions
May 17, 2017 - A Resolution Responding to Ohio's Opiate Epidemic
...BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the Tri-County Board of Recovery and Mental Health Services urge the Governor of the State of Ohio, the Ohio General Assembly, and Ohio’s Congressional Delegation to declare the opiate epidemic an emergency, prioritizing the needs of Ohioans impacted by opioid addiction by dramatically increasing investments in prevention, treatment, recovery support, education, and interdiction efforts to end this epidemic. 
March 19, 2014 - A Resolution Affirming Continued Local Control of Community Mental Health and Addiction Services
...BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the Tri-County Board of Recovery and Mental Health Services on behalf of Darke, Miami and Shelby counties urge the Ohio General Assembly to keep intact local control, and not allow the targeting of state funds that were appropriated to meet the needs of our local citizens.