Ohio voters weighing how to vote on Issue 2, which if approved will legalize recreational marijuana, might wonder whether using weed will lead to more dangerous drugs. Unfortunately, like so many of our newsroom’s questions about marijuana, there’s not a lot of reliable research to consult. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there is some research that suggests marijuana use is likely to precede use of and addiction to alcohol, nicotine, and other illicit substances. But most marijuana users don’t ramp up to other "harder" substances. And correlation does not equal causation. On the other hand, some that argue that legalizing cannabis might actually prevent people from using harder, more dangerous and more addictive substances like opioids, which have been a massive scourge in this state. - Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Browns at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. Sunday, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Ind. TV: WOIO Channel 19. Radio: WKRK FM/92.3, WNCX FM/98.5, WKNR AM/850. Northeast Ohio weather forecast: More rain, cooler temperatures this weekend |
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Does recreational cannabis use increase the likelihood that users will experiment with more dangerous addictive substances? Is marijuana a so-called “gateway drug”? Or can it be an alternative to more dangerous opioids? (Associated Press file photo) |
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Gateway drug: Gretchen Cuda Kroen reports that while there are some indications that marijuana use might coincide with alcohol and illicit drug use and abuse, the case that cannabis is responsible for that abuse is weak. Museum seizure: The Cleveland Museum of Art on Thursday sued New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg over the prosecutor’s seizure of a museum sculpture valued at more than $20 million. The lawsuit says the sculpture, “Draped Male Figure,” was lawfully acquired by the museum and that Bragg’s office has no legal authority to seize it, reports Adam Ferrise. Today in Ohio: Will using marijuana lead you to more dangerous drugs? We’re talking about the research, as well as which age groups of Ohioans support legalizing recreational marijuana, on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Issue 1 ads: For the second Ohio election in a row, abortion-rights supporters are outspending abortion opponents on the airwaves, reports Andrew Tobias. Since Sept. 6, groups supporting State Issue 1, which if approved would add abortion rights to the state constitution, have spent $9.3 million on TV and radio ads, or roughly twice as much as the $4.6 million spent or reserved by the “no” side. Obama on Issue 1: Former President Barack Obama encouraged Ohioans on social media late Thursday afternoon to vote for Issue 1, the proposed abortion rights constitutional amendment, Laura Hancock reports. “If you want to protect abortion rights by making them part of your state Constitution, vote yes on Issue 1,” Obama said in a post on social media. Jim Jordan: U.S. House speaker candidate Jim Jordan on Thursday decided to take a break from a series of votes on the House of Representatives floor after he couldn’t nail down enough support to win the job. He instead endorsed temporarily giving Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry power to move legislation through the House, reports Sabrina Eaton. But that move hit its own roadblocks. Solicitor general: The new lead lawyer representing the state of Ohio in appeals cases is Elliot Gaiser, whom Attorney General Dave Yost describes as an “appellate ace” but whose name comes up dozens of times in testimony regarding the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack. Jeremy Pelzer reports the state’s solicitor general, who serves under Yost, represents the state on appeals involving the U.S. and Ohio Supreme Courts, among other courts. Israel: U.S. Sen. JD Vance is among a GOP faction in Congress who are eager to support Israel in its war with Hamas without tying it to further aid for Ukraine. Sabrina Eaton reports Vance co-authored a Thursday opinion piece in The Hill that warned against using the crisis in Israel as a “Plan B” to get a Ukraine funding request by President Joe Biden’s administration across the finish line. |
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People’s Budget: Cleveland Neighborhood Progress opposes Issue 38, the proposed People’s Budget charter amendment on the Nov. 7 ballot that would let residents decide how to spend a portion of Cleveland’s annual budget, reports Courtney Astolfi. The nonprofit serves as the umbrella organization for community development in Cleveland and it works closely with the city’s 20-some neighborhood-based community development corporations. |
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COVID numbers: After four straight weeks of falling case numbers, the trend reversed this week as the number of new COVID-19 cases in Ohio rose slightly, reports Julie Washington. Case numbers increased from 4,997 last week to 5,506, the Ohio Department of Health reported Thursday. KeyBank: KeyBank CEO Chris Gorman said the company has reduced staffing levels and may have some layoffs going forward, as he predicts a recession next year. Sean McDonnell reports the bank is largely meeting its targets of 50% of the workers in the office four to five days a week, about 30% one to three days a week and 20% fully remote. Natural gas: It’s finally cold enough to turn the furnace on in Northeast Ohio. That means now is the time to shop for a better deal on natural gas, Sean McDonnell writes in his weekly Saving You Money column. Ohioans have some control over their heating and power bills, and they can shop for and pick their own suppliers for both electricity and natural gas. |
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Poison control: The number of e-cigarette exposures among young children that has been reported to Ohio poison control centers is on the rise, reports Laura Hancock. Through September of this year, 263 children up to age 5 have had symptoms from exposure, according to the Ohio Department of Health. Embezzlement verdict: A federal jury on Thursday found a real-estate developer guilty of embezzling $885,000 from the construction project to rebuild the New East Side Market in Cleveland’s Glenville neighborhood. Arthur Fayne, 60, faces up to five years and 11 months in federal prison after the jury delivered a verdict on nine counts of wire fraud, Adam Ferrise reports. Clinic doctor: A former Cleveland Clinic doctor has urged an appeals court to intervene after a judge jailed him this week when he asked to plead insanity to charges accusing him of groping several of his patients, reports Cory Shaffer. In filings, lawyers for Omar Massoud argued that Common Pleas Judge Shirley Strickland Saffold violated Massoud’s rights when she ordered the 67-year-old be held in jail until the court’s psychiatric clinic can evaluate his competency. |
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Michigan cheating? Michigan football is again under investigation — this time for acts that might directly affect the outcome of the game with Ohio State. Nathan Baird reports the NCAA is investigating whether Michigan football violated rules against scouting future opponents in person. At issue is whether Michigan used “unnamed individuals” to attend games of scheduled opponents and possible playoff opponents to gather information on the signs used to call offensive and defensive plays. Lawson’s dip: Don’t let grocery and convenience stores fool you. There’s only one chip dip in Cleveland – and that is Lawson’s Chip Dip. French onion. Full stop. In his first installment of Classic CLE Eats and Drinks, Peter Chakerian takes you back to childhood, during pool rest periods. Ask Yadi: Is it OK to embellish on a dating app? If your goal is to find a future partner, then be as honest as possible, writes Yadi Rodriguez. Why would you want to shock the interested party when you do meet up in the flesh and look the opposite of what you said you were? Strip District: If you love food and you haven’t been to Pittsburgh’s Strip District, what are you waiting for? Susan Glaser reports the neighborhood packs in butchers, fishmongers, a tea seller, spirits store, chocolate shop, distilleries, breweries and winery, as well as a melting pot of cafes and restaurants. You’ll find ethnic markets focused on Italian, Greek, Latin and Arabic foods. CMA buy: The newest round of acquisitions at the Cleveland Museum of Art includes “The Dutton Family in the Drawing Room of Sherborne Park, Gloucestershire,” a highly detailed 1772 masterpiece by German painter Johann Zoffany that places viewers inside a fancy 18th-century English drawing room where a card game is underway, reports Steven Litt. Chamber Choir: The Cleveland Chamber Choir is starting its season this weekend with “Considering Matthew Shepard,” reports Paris Wolfe. The piece is Craig Hella Johnson’s modern oratorio about a gay student at the University of Wyoming who, 25 years ago this month, was brutally beaten and left to die. Things to do: If you’re looking to see a concert, go to a fall festival or perhaps check out a stage show, there are a myriad of options this weekend, including the Kiss End of the Road Tour. Joey Morona lists 16 options. |
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Cleveland police detective critically injured in Utah paragliding crash Read more Akron man gets life sentence for 2022 slaying in Cuyahoga Falls Read more Amber Alert canceled after 1-year-old girl taken from Cleveland found safe; suspect in custody Read more 1 dead after triple shooting in Cleveland’s North Broadway neighborhood Read more Parma councilwoman wants to increase penalties for kids violating curfew Read more Plans stall for a wellness center at the former UH Richmond Heights Medical Center site Read more Solon ballot issue would provide more flexibility for capital needs Read more Parma leader and former Congressman Ron Mottl dies at 89 Read more |
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