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As Ohio’s cannabis industry grows, it's time for lawmakers to take the next logical step: launching a pilot program for cannabis social lounges. By looking to the successes of other states, Ohio can create safe, legal spaces for public consumption while supporting small businesses and enhancing public safety.

Currently, cannabis use is largely confined to private residences in Ohio, leaving renters and residents in public housing, where landlords may prohibit cannabis use, with few options. This forces many to resort to consuming in less-than-ideal locations like cars, public spaces, or hotels, increasing risks and public safety concerns.

Designated social lounges would help mitigate these issues. Just as Nevada reduced public consumption problems in Las Vegas by introducing lounges, Ohio could do the same, keeping cannabis off the streets and out of parks in popular areas like the Short North and Easton.

The Columbus Free Press is proud to announce the recipient of our 2024 "Libby" award for Lifetime Achievement in Community Activism -- Abe Bonowitz. The Free Press honors community activists annually with a "Libby" Award, named for a former Free Press editor, Libby Gregory, who lost her life in 1991 in an airplane accident. 

The Awards event will happen during the Free Press Second Saturday Salon in the afternoon on December 14, 1:30-4:30pm at the First Unitarian Universalist Church at 93 W. Weisheimer Rd. It is free and open to the public with refreshments. Facebook Event.

WHAT: Save Ohio Parks Speak Out before Oil and Gas Land Management
Commission meeting

WHO: Speakers will include Ohio citizens Roxanne Groff, Jenny Morgan, Mary
Huck, Shannon Flanders, Katie Annarino, and Cory Haydocy

WHERE: On sidewalk outside of meeting venue, Ohio Department of Public
Safety - Charles D. Shipley Building, Atrium.1970 W. Broad Street, Columbus,
OH 43223

WHEN: Monday, October 21, at noon

BACKGROUND
The Oil and Gas Land Management Commission - the body tasked with deciding
on oil and gas "nominations" to frack Ohio state parks, wildlife areas, and
other public lands - will meet on Monday, October 21, at 1 p.m.

Ahead of this meeting on Monday, October 21, at 12 noon, Save Ohio Parks
will hold a Speak Out for members of the public - Ohio taxpayers who own and
use our public lands - to say what they think about the these lands- that
are supposed to be protected and used for the people of Ohio in perpetuity -
being leased to the oil and gas industry for fracking that will damage and
degrade them forever.

Repeatedly, Ohio residents - whose comments and objections the commission is

The world is producing more clothing than ever -- more than 100 billion pieces a year. As a result, textiles are entering landfills at an unprecedented rate.1

And to make it worse: A lot of clothing is being sent straight to the landfill or burned in an incinerator without ever being worn. The fast fashion model of making more clothes than we can buy wastes precious resources, creates piles and piles of textile waste, and pollutes our air and water.

Environment America is working to slow this endless cycle of overproduction and waste by calling on clothing giant Forever 21 to publicly commit to not trashing or burning its overstock. Add your name.

This week on Everybody Knows with Dr. Bob and Dan-o, Dan plays his original songs and talks about his video and event for Halloween.

Listen Fridays at 11pm on WGRN 91.9FM and streaming live at wgrn.org

Also on Mondays at 2pm on WCRS 92.7/98.3FM and streaming live at wcrsfm.org

The radio show is archived here.

Performances.  Mystic Café Variety Show and Open Mic
Friday, October 18, 2024, 6:00 PM (doors open) 7:00 – 9:00 PM
Help SoulCall Global raise money to feed and house the needy and enjoy an old-fashioned variety show with everything from great music and comedy acts to who knows what. Performers are encouraged to sign up.  A keyboard accompanist is available.  Donation $15 (or more! 100% of profits go to our charitable programs).  

Location:  Columbus Mennonite Church, 35 Oakland Park Ave., Columbus OH 43214. 

Oct. 15, 2024

For many years we, and others, have been analyzing “Unadjusted Exit Polls” (UEP) for US Elections.  These are exit polls that result from asking voters who have already voted who they supported. A state’s UEP results are shown by the journalistic organizations sponsoring the exit poll at the time the state’s polls are scheduled to close.

These UEPs are distinct from the “Adjusted Exit Polls” (AEPs) that are widely reported in the US after UEPs are adjusted to match official vote outcomes hours after the polls close. It should be noted that this universal US practice of conflating UEPs with AEPs is not generally replicated in other countries.

Jim Jordan is best known for kissing Trump’s ass, being an egomaniac, and a serial abuser of those he believes are below him. Jordan once said, “vaccine mandates are un-American.” Try telling that to all the families of the deceased, and to their faces.

The Ohio congressman is up for re-election this November in a gerrymandered mess of a district which includes small parts of Columbus, including a district (District 4) for which he’s done nothing. If you have any doubt about Jordan’s record, just ask his Democratic opponent, Tamie Wilson.

Wilson, while campaigning last week, met up with Gabby (pictured above on right). Gabby is a former waitress who unfortunately had to wait on Gymmy’s, er, Jimmy’s table one very uncomfortable and unforgettable evening. Wilson put their conversation on Twitter, which now has over 1 million views.

Thursday, October 17, 2pm
Franklin County Courthouse, 373 S. High, 16th floor
Columbus room
Franklin County Investment Advisory Committee will meet and we need to pressure them to divest from Israel. 

Digging Into Donald Trump’s Climate Record”
Wednesday, October 16, at 12pm US Eastern Time
The 2024 US elections are undoubtedly about climate change, and audiences need to understand both candidates’ positions and records on climate. While in office, former president Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 Paris Agreement, threw out more than 100 environmental regulations, and had “climate change” removed from the EPA's site. On the 2024 campaign trail, the former president reportedly told Big Oil executives that he would trash President Joe Biden's climate policy accomplishments in exchange for $1 billion in campaign donations.
Join a panel of journalists October 16, at 12pm US Eastern Time, for a one-hour discussion on Trump's climate agenda during his first term, and what his campaign promises and political affiliations mean for a potential second term.

PANELISTS