I've been flummoxed and flip-flopping on how to vote on Issues 2 and 3 for the past month. I have heard thoughtful arguments from intelligent people on all sides of the issues and many good points can be made in many directions. Alas,  Election Day has arrived so it's time to pull the trigger, or voting lever as it were. I'm not trying to convince anybody how to vote and if you think I'm wrong, there is a good possibility you are right. Anyhoo, my two cents....

Issue 3: Obviously, marijuana should be legal. I'm not going to go into all the reasons why this makes sense but it's time to update our judicial system and stop hassling people who choose to smoke after a long day of work instead of having a drink. I know the monopoly question has many people troubled and I can understand why it does. No doubt that something shady is going on. Still, if a handful of rich dudes getting over on the unwashed public means my friends can smoke up without fear of criminalization, I can live with that trade.

But you know what bothers me? Gummy bears. I know lots and lots of people who smoke pot, and NONE of them prefer it in gummy bear form. I wear many hats but I'm a parent first, and I see nothing positive from offering marijuana in candy form. This is meant for kids and kids only and in good conscience I cannot sign off on this notion. If you want some of grandma's old- fashioned space brownies you are going to have to bake them yourselves. Or put another way, if Owen wants to smoke weed his freshman year in the Towers, he is going to have to choke it down and cough it up from a crappy bong like the rest of us did. If you remove edible marijuana products from issue 3 you have my vote, but until that happens  I'm going to harsh your groove and Vote NO ON ISSUE 3.

Issue 2: At first glance this looks like a no-brainer in the affirmative. But when you consider the source is the Ohio House of Representatives and ponder the long game, it warrants a closer look. Mind you, this is the same party that passed a law allowing people to bring guns into bars as long as they promised not to drink. And fought their own Governor to deny Ohio citizens health care with expanded Medicaid because they disagree with the President's skin color.  (Ok, that's a cheap shot and not true, but I have a bone to pick with the Ohio House. Click here to see why John Kasich agrees with me)

If the Ohio House is for Issue 2, that means there is an excellent chance it's a bad idea. Bad for small business and bad for you and me. I'm voting NO ON ISSUE 2. 

ISSUE 1 : I'm voting Yes  and you should too. This is a no-brainer. Just do it.

Colin Gawel banged this out while giving shoddy service at Colin's Coffee. His new album "Superior - The Best of Colin Gawel" is accepting pre-orders now. Click here for more info.