Sorry if a bizarre title, but I talk to Amy all the time and would be happy to discuss/give some inside perspective on her views, statements.

The media stories don’t really capture the full picture (shocking, I know), so it is really nice to be able to have a close connection with her and truly know her thought process and stances on things

There are definitely things I don’t know so I can’t answer literally every single question.

There are things I don’t agree with her on for sure.

But I do know enough directly from her that I think I could clear air on some topics if you are curious

This is paywalled, but here are the highlights:

Amy Acton

• Keep recreational marijuana legal: She would respect the 2023 voter-approved Issue 2 and keep recreational marijuana legal for adults 21+.
• Keep the 10% tax: She would maintain Ohio’s current 10% marijuana tax and oppose efforts to recriminalize portions of what voters approved.
• Allow regulated hemp THC products: Opposes Ohio’s new ban on hemp-derived THC drinks/products and favors regulating them similarly to marijuana, with testing, safety requirements, age restrictions and protections for children.

Don Kissick

• Keep marijuana legal: Says the government should respect the 2023 vote rather than continually trying to undermine it.
• Change marijuana laws: Wants marijuana-related OVI convictions to require proof of actual impairment rather than relying solely on THC levels. He also supports sealing/expunging records for conduct that is now legal.
• Lower taxes and allow hemp THC: Would consider reducing the current 10% marijuana tax once regulatory costs are covered, ease some licensing restrictions for small businesses, and allow hemp-derived THC products with reasonable age, packaging and serving restrictions.

Vivek Ramaswamy

• No current position: His campaign did not respond to Cleveland.com’s questions about marijuana or hemp policy, so his position as a gubernatorial candidate remains unclear.
• Previously supported federal legalization: During his 2024 presidential campaign, he said he favored federal marijuana legalization.
• But opposed Ohio Issue 2: Ramaswamy voted against Ohio's 2023 recreational marijuana initiative, arguing that state law conflicting with federal law creates confusion and undermines the rule of law. He also criticized the original law's provisions directing some marijuana tax revenue toward assistance for disadvantaged business owners.

Bottom line: Dr. Acton and Kissick are both explicitly pro-legalization and pro-regulation, although Kissick wants substantially more changes to the existing system. Ramaswamy is the outlier because he has not stated what he would actually do as governor, despite having opposed Issue 2 in 2023.