Mark Naymik – Metro Columninist for the Northeast Ohio Media Group and The Plain Dealer

Dear Colleagues:

The “War on Drugs” has not worked very well. Even President George W. Bush’s Office of Management and Budget rated most of its components as “Ineffective” or “Not Performing.” Grouping marijuana with opioids and hallucinogens can be questioned for many reasons. Should the voters of Ohio try to limit the conflict a bit?

On November 3, Ohio voters could choose to legalize possession of up to 8 ounces of marijuana – and, perhaps more important, create a system for legal marketing of cannabis products. Critics of the drug war may see that as clear progress. Yet opponents of the initiative cite many objections. Marijuana possession is already decriminalized in Ohio. The initiative identifies who will be able to produce the drug, and those potential businesses are largely paying for the initiative campaign. Should initiatives grant such business concessions? Some people claim that legalization in other states has had negative effects. Businesses worry about how legal pot might affect their workforces. Financial institutions risk violating federal law if they processed “drug money.” Mark Naymik has been reporting and commenting on the issue; come to share opinions and insights.

All best regards,
Joe White
Luxenberg Family Professor of Public Policy and Director, Center for Policy Studies

About Our Guest

Mark Naymik has covered city, county and state politics for The Plain Dealer since 2001. He currently writes a Metro column for the Northeast Ohio Media Group. Prior to joining The Plain Dealer, he worked for alternative weekly newspapers in Cleveland and Philadelphia.

Where We Meet

The Friday Public Affairs Lunch convenes each Friday when classes are in session, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. We usually meet in the Dampeer Room of Kelvin Smith Library. The Dampeer Room is on the second floor of the library. If you get off the elevators, turn right, pass the first bank of tables, and turn right again. Occasionally we need to use a different room; that will always be announced in the weekly e-mails.

Parking Possibilities

The most convenient parking is the lot underneath Severance Hall. We regret that it is not free. From that lot there is an elevator up to street level (labeled as for the Thwing Center); it is less than 50 yards from that exit to the library entrance. You can get from the Severance garage to the library without going outside. Near the entry gates – just to the right if you were driving out – there is a door into a corridor. Walk down the corridor and there will be another door. Beyond that door you’ll find the entrance to an elevator which goes up to an entrance right inside the doors to Kelvin Smith Library.

Friday Lunch Upcoming Topics and Speakers:

October 23: Energy, Climate, and the Historian’s View of the Future. With Peter A. Shulman, Associate Professor of History.

October 30: From “9 to 5” to What? New Work Patterns and Their Implications. With Jenny Rae Hawkins, Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics.

November 6: A Year Away from the 2016 Election…. With Paul Herrnson, Professor of Political Science, University of Connecticut.

November 13: Why Virtual Schools are Growing So Fast, and What it Might Mean for the Future of Public Education. With Peter Robertson, Senior Vice President of School Operations, Connections Education.

November 20: Integrating the Inner City Through Mixed-Income Development. With Mark Joseph, Associate Professor at MSASS and Director, National Initiative on Mixed-Income Communities; Taryn Gross, Program Manager for the Initiative, and Emily Miller, Project Coordinator for the Initiative. Co-sponsored with the Schubert Center for Child Studies. ***Alternate Location: Mandel Community Studies Center Room 115, 11402 Bellflower Road***

November 27: Thanksgiving Break

December 4: Making Clean Energy Work. With Walter Money, Whole House Energy Solutions.