The Kentucky and Indiana "Problem"

One of the reasons cited by members of Cincinnati City Council's Law and Safety Committee for increasing the penalty for simple possession of marijuana was that people from Kentucky and Indiana were flooding into Cincinnati to buy marijuana, as the penalty for possession in Ohio was less severe than penalties in either of those states.

However, an analysis of the states of residence for those ticketed for possession under Ohio law or arrested under 910-23 show that over 96% (96 out of 100) were from Ohio, not from Kentucky, Indiana, or other states.

It is clear from these numbers that the majority of people buying marijuana in Cincinnati are from Ohio, not from other states. Equally clear is that Ordinance 910-23 has had no deterrent affect on those coming from other states to buy marijuana.

Citations and/or Arrests for Possession of Marijuana by State of Residence
Source: Cincinnati Police Department

Numbers:

  2005 2006 2007 2008
Other states or unknown 19 4 15 23
Indiana 14 7 7 21
Kentucky 126 28 65 89
Ohio 4,873 1,124 3,704 3,953
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Percentages:

  2005 2006 2007 2008
Other states or unknown 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.6
Indiana 0.3 0.6 1.7 2.2
Kentucky 2.5 2.5 1.7 2.2
Ohio 96.8 96.6 97.7 96.6
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