>>> AS COVID CASES SURGE, SCHOOL DISTRICTS SCRAMBLE TO PROTECT KIDS.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ >>> JOINING US ON "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD THIS WEEK, LAURA BISCHOFF, REPORTER FOR THE USA TODAY OHIO NETWORK.

JOSEPH MAS OF THE OHIO HISPANIC COAL IGSZ AND MICHAEL MILLER, FORMER FRANKLIN COUNTY PROSECUTOR.

OHIO HAS NOT SEEN COVID SPREAD LIKE THIS SINCE JANUARY, AT THE START OF THE SUMMER BACK IN JUNE OHIO HAS SEEN ABOUT 200 CASES A DAY.

NOW WE'RE SEEING ABOUT 6,000 NEW CASES A DAY.

NEEDLESS TO SAY THE CDC HAS ALL OF OHIO IN ITS HIGHEST LEVEL OF SPREAD CATEGORY AND THAT APPLIES TO NEARLY ALL OF THE COUNT RYE.

HOSPITALIZATION ARE A GOOD METRIC TO GAUGE THE STATUS OF THE FIGHT AND THERE THE NEWS IS NOT GOOD.

OHIO IS SEEING TEN TIMES THE NUMBER OF COVID HOSPITALIZATIONS THAT WE SAW BACK IN EARLY JULY, AND IT'S NOT JUST OLD PEOPLE GOING TO THE HOSPITAL.

DOCTORS ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE KIDS ADMITTED WITH COVID.

>> ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THE KIDS WEREN'T GETTING INFECTED AND THEY WERE GETTING PARTICULARLY SICK.

IT'S CHANGED NOW.

A YEAR AGO THERE WERE A HANDFUL OF KIDS IN THE HOSPITAL WITH OTHER CONDITIONS AND HAPPENED TO HAVE COVID.

NOW WE'RE STARTING TO SEE KIDS IN THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE OF COVID AND OTHER EFFECTS.

>> THE KIDS IN THE HOSPITAL STORY IS ALARMING.

THE BIG POLICY ISSUE IN THE PAST MONTH OR SO HAS BEEN SHOULD SCHOOLS REQUIRE MASKS AND YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE SCHOOLS CHANGE THE POLICY BECAUSE OF THE SPREAD?

>> OHIO HAS 1.8 MILLION KIDS ABOUT HALF OF WHO ARE NOTTEL IJ FOR THE VEHICLESES JUST YET.

MASKS WERE NEARLY UNIVERSAL IN THE CLASSROOMS AND IT SEEMED TO BE PRETTY EFFECTIVE AND THE MESSAGE THAT THE GOVERNOR KEEPS SAYING IS IT WORKED LAST YEAR.

WE SHOULD, YOU KNOW, GO AHEAD AND DO IT AGAIN THIS YEAR AND IF YOUR KID IS ELIGIBLE TO GET VACCINATED GO AHEAD AND MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

THIS YEAR THE MASKING DECISIONS ARE BEING LEFT UP TO THE DISTRICTS AND WE DO HAVE A PATCHWORK OF POLICIES.

IT DOES SEEM LIKE THE CASES MOVE UP MORE DISTRICTS ARE MOVING TOWARD MASK MINUTE DATES.

>> THE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL HAD TO SHUT DOWN FOR A WHILE AND HILLIARD HAD A MASK OPTIONAL FOR SOME KIDS NOW, EVERYONE'S GOT TO WEAR A MASK AND ALL OF THE SCHOOLS, AND THAT WAS A BIG SOURCE OF CONTENTION IN THE DISTRICTS ESPECIALLY IN THE SUBURBAN AREAS AROUND OHIO.

MICHAEL MILLER, IN YOUR TRAVEL ARE YOU SEEING MORE AND MORE FOLKS WEARING MASKS?

ARE FOLKS TAKING IT SERIOUSLY?

HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU AND FOLKS YOU HANG AROUND WITH?

>> I'M CONCERNED.

I, FORTUNATELY, GOT MY BOOSTER SHOT A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, AND I BELIEVE I'M SEEING MORE PEOPLE WEARING MASKS.

WHEN THINGS ARE LOOKING PRETTY WELL YOU CAN GO INTO CERTAIN STORES, KROGER, WALMART AND THAT TYPE OF THING AND IT WAS OPTIONAL, AND I THINK PROBABLY A MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE THEM ON.

NOW IT SEEMS A LOT MORE PEOPLE ARE WEARING THEM THAN HAD WORN THEM SIX WEEKS AGO, WHICH I'M GLAD TO SEE, AND I HOPE IT JUST GROWS FROM THAT.

>> THE FRASHG LYNN COUNTY COURTHOUSE, A PLACE WHERE YOU ARE OFTEN IS REQUIRING MASKS NOW, JUST ANOTHER SIGN THAT THIS PANDEMIC IS VERY MUCH STILL WITH US.

>> IT IS.

THAT'S GREAT, MIKE.

ONE THING IS THEY SMIT UP THE CASES THAT NORMALLY APPEAR ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS AND THOSE WERE MINOR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS WHERE NOW WE SIGNED FOR THE AFTERNOON AND SOMETHING THAT TO MY KNOWLEDGE WE'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE, BUT IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT AT LEAST ACCORDING TO THE SECURITY PERSONNEL ON WEDNESDAY, THEY CLAIMED THAT AFTER THIS WEEKEND THAT THEY'LL GO BACK TO HAVING EVERYBODY BE THERE AT THE SAME TIME.

I THINK IT'S BAD TIMING TO DO THAT.

I HATE THE 1:00 BIFURCATION, BUT AT THE SAME TIME I THINK WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON.

WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE IN OHIO ARE STILL UNVACCINATED.

>> LAURA BISCHOFF, LAWMAKERS AREN'T REALLY DOING MUCH.

AFTER LABOR DAY THEY WILL GET BACK INTO SESSION, AND THEY'LL DISCUSS, VOTE ON, SEVERAL PROPOSALS TO BAN MANDATES, BOTH THE MASK AND VACCINE MANDATES.

HAS THIS SURGE, IN YOUR UNDERSTANDING, HAS IT CHANGED THE THINKING ON THAT AND HAS IT MADE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS MORE VIGILANT THAT THEY HAVE TO BAN THESE MANDATES OR COOL IT FOR A WHILE UNTIL THIS SURGE PASSES?

>> WELL -- I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S COOLED THEM AT ALL.

HOUSE BILL 248 GOT IT LAST MONTH, AND THAT'S A BILL THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THE MANDATES AND WE WEAKEN LONGSTANDING FEMA SUCH AS REQUIRING STUDENTS WHO GO TO COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND DORMITORIES THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE PROOF OF MENINGITIS VACCINE OR ALSO OHIO'S GOT A BUNCH OF EXEMPTIONS THAT ARE LAW AND THIS WOULD REQUIRE K-12 SCHOOLS TO SPELL OUT EXEMPTIONS TO PARENTS SO THAT THEY COULD EXERCISE THEIR CONSCIENCE WHICH IS A CATCH-ALL EXEMPTION.

SO THAT BILL IS STILL -- IT'S STILL IN THE COFFER AND THE ONLY THING THAT'S REALLY PUT A CHILL ON IT ISN'T THE NUMBERS GOING UP OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S THAT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ARE PUTTING A FULL-COURT PRESS, AND THEY REALLY DON'T LIKE THE IDEA THAT THEY CAN'T HAVE REQUIREMENTS FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES SUCH AS WEARING MASKS OR TESTING THAT THEY'VE BEEN VACCINATED OR THAT SORT OF THING.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

SHOULD BUSINESSES BE ABLE TO DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES OR DO YOU -- DO YOU LAND ON THE SIDE OF THE SORT OF FREEDOM.

YOU SHOULD BE FREE TO CHOOSE FOR YOURSELF WHETHER YOU GET VACCINATED OR WHETHER YOU WEAR A MASK?

>> I THINK WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO COME INTO THE BUSINESS THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.

I THINK BUSINESS PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MANDATE MASKS IF THAT'S WHAT THEY FEEL IS CORRECT.

I FEEL LIKE ANYBODY SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE THIS THING IS KILLING -- WHERE ARE WE NOW?

625, 30,000 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN THE COUNTRY AND OHIO RATES ARE GOING UP.

FRANKLIN COUNTY RATES ARE GOING UP.

WE'VE HAD A FEW WEEKS AGO.

SOME HAVE COME A LONG WAY, AND AGAIN, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE VACCINATION THING.

PERHAPS PEOPLE HAVE RELIGIOUS VIEWS.

I BELIEVE THE STUDY WE SAW RECENTLY THAT LOCALLY OUT OF THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE IT SO HIGH, AND A LOT OF THE PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL, 89% HAVE BEEN VACCINATED AND THE PEOPLE IN '91 AND '92 HAVE NOT AND OUT OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SUCCUMBED TO THIS PLAGUE IS 1.2% HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

>> YEAH.

>> AGAIN, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE DON'T GET VACCINATED, AND I THINK BUSINESS PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY YOU CAN'T COME IN HERE UNLESS YOU HAVE A MASK ON.

>> LAURA BISCHOFF, WHEN THE VACCINATION LOTTERY RAN ITS COURSE THERE WAS A COST.

THE GOVERNOR SUGGESTED HE MIGHT BE OFFERING ADDITIONAL INCENTIVES FOR PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN MUCH FROM THE GOVERNOR DOING THAT.

CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL WAS OFFERING BONUSES TO STAFF TO GET VACCINATED.

ANYTHING TO BOOST THOSE VACCINATION NUMBERS?

>> THE LAST THING WE SAW THERE WAS AN INCENTIVE FOR STATE EMPLOYEES IF THEY GOT -- SHOWED PROOF OF VACCINATION, THEY WOULD GET A $100 BONUS AND THEIR SPOUSES COULD GET 25 BUCKS, AND IT WASN'T A BIG UPTICK IN -- IN STATE EMPLOYEES THAT WERE ACTUALLY CLAIMING THAT BONUS.

IT WAS INTERESTING WHAT MICHAEL WAS SAYING ABOUT THE ANTI-VAXXERS OR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE VACCINATED.

THERE WAS A STORY IN "THE NEW YORK TIMES" THAT TALKED ABOUT HOW THE ANTI-VACCINATION MOVEMENT CHANGED ITS APPROACH FROM VACCINES FOR AUTISM WHICH IS A TOTALLY DEBUNKED ALLEGATION TO FRAMING THEIR ISSUE INTO MORE OF A MATTER OF MEDICAL CHOICE AND MEDICAL FREEDOM, AND IT HAD BEEN MAKING INROADS, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THE 2020 PANDEMIC HIT AND IT REALLY RAMPED UP THE MESSAGING AND THE MOVEMENT AGAINST VACCINES OR AGAINST VACCINE MANDATES REALLY FELL, REALLY RAMPED UP THEIR MESSAGING INCLUDING A LOT OF STATE LAWMAKERS IN OHIO AND ELSEWHERE.

>> IT COULD HAVE CONSEQUENCES LONG DOWN THE ROAD AND LONG AFTER THIS PANDEMIC IS BEHIND US.

>> REDISTRICTING MAPS FOR OHIO AND SENATE DISTRICTS ARE STARTING TO EMERGE, BUT THEY ARE NOT THE MAPS THAT LIKELY WILL COUNT.

WILL GOVERNMENT GROUPS SAID IF DEMOCRATS HAD PRESENTED MAPS, BUT THE REPUBLICANS IN CHARGE, AND THE REPUBLICANS ON THE REDISTRICTS COMMISSION SAY THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON THEIR MAPS EVEN THOUGH A REDISTRICTING PROCESS IS SUPPOSED TO ENCOURAGE BIPARTISAN COOPERATION.

DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS DO NOT APPEAR TO BE WORKING TOGETHER.

JOE MAS, THEY MISSED A DEADLINE.

SEPTEMBER 1st TO COME UP WITH A MAP, THE NEXT DEADLINE, THE HARDER DEADLINE IS TEN DAYS AWAY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN?

WILL WE GET MORE BY THEN?

>> THE 16th IS THE HARD DEADLINE, AND I THINK THEY'LL COME UP WITH SOMETHING, BUT THE BACK STORY IS INTERESTING.

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING TOGETHER, BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS AND THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THE CASE, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THE LEGISLATORS THEMSELVES, IN OTHER WORDS, THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION ARE ACTUALLY WORKING THE MAPS EITHER.

THERE MAY BE DESIGNATED HITTERS AND THE STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE WORKING ON THIS AND THE DEMOCRATS, THEY HAVE COME UP WITH A MAP THAT INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH DOES GIVE SOME FAVORABLE TREATMENT TO THE REPUBLICANS, BUT AT LEAST IT DOES PROVIDE FOR SOME SWIM DISTRICTS THAT IS AN IMPROVEMENT OVER WHAT WE HAVE TO GET.

>> THAT MAP CLOSES THE DEMOCRAT OR THE REPUBLICANS.

>> WHAT DO REPUBLICANS SAY IS THE HOLDUP IN THE REDISTRICTING MAP THING.

>> THE CENSUS DATA DIDN'T COME THROUGH IN TIME AND IT WASN'T GOING TO GET DELIVERED UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30th, AND THEN FINALLY IT CAME THROUGH A LITTLE EARLIER AND THE HOLDUP IS THAT THERE ARE THESE NEW RULES THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND AND FIGURE OUT OUT?

>> I THINK THAT EITHER SIDE IS THAT CLOSE TO COMING TO AN AGREEMENT.

SO THERE'S PROBABLY A LOT OF NEGOTIATING GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES.

>> THE SYSTEM WAS APPROVED AND PUT INTO LAW AND THE CONSTITUTION THAT THE TWO SIDES WOULD GET INTO IT AND TRY TO HASH THIS OUT, BUT IT'S NOT HAPPENING.

I GUESS YOU HAVE TO SAY IT'S NOT TERRIBLY SURPRISING ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE REPUBLICANS' ADVANTAGE AND ELECTED OFFICES IN THE STATE.

>> IT IS SURPRISING.

IT'S NICE TO THINK THAT THEY WOULD WORK TOGETHER, BUT HISTORICALLY, THEY HAVEN'T AND THE REPUBLICANS ARE IN CHARGE AND THEY'LL DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NEW MAP IS BENEFICIAL TO THEM.

THE DEMOCRATS WOULD DO THE SAME THING IF THEY'RE IN CHARGE.

I REMEMBER THE DATE MORE THAN TEN YEARS AGO, THEY SAW SOMETHING THAT WOULD WORK OUT.

THE DEMOCRATS WOULD PUT IT OUT.

WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TOGETHER, AND I HOPE THAT LAURA IS RIGHT AND THEY DO COMPROMISE AND COMING UP WITH SOMETHING.

THERE WEREN'T MANY DEMOCRAT VOTES AND WE DON'T GET THOSE TWO AND THE REPUBLICANS GET TO DRAW THE MAP, AND IT'S GOOD FOR FOUR YEARS INSTEAD OF TEN AND WE START ALL OVER AGAIN.

I HOPE THEY COMPROMISE AND DO SOMETHING, BUT HUMAN NATURE BEING WHAT IT IS I DON'T EXPECT IT.

>> I CAN HAVE THE ARGUMENT THAT A FOUR-YEAR MAP WAS BETTER BECAUSE THE CENSUS NUMBERS WAS LATE, AND OKAY, WE'LL DO A -- OH, NO.

I USUALLY DO, I THINK I FOLLOW MIKE MILLER'S ARGUMENT AND SAY HE WAS 100% CORRECT AND THAT WAS 2009 WHEN THAT HAPPENED, AND I AGREE WITH YOU AND I WAS A STRONG AND LOUD OPPONENT TO THAT FOR THE SIMPLE REASON THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF REDISTRICTING.

SO HERE WE ARE, AND I THINK THAT JUST FOUR MORE YEARS AND THEN THEY'LL HAVE THE TWO-ELECTION CYCLE OPTION, INSTEAD.

THE CYNICAL PART OF ME SAYS THAT.

THIS IS NOT THAT HARD.

THIS IS NOT THAT HARD.

>> FOUR YEARS IS A LIFE TIME THESE DAYS, YOU KNOW?

IT APPEARS THE 2022 RACE FOR THE SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE WILL COME DOWN TO SIX CANDIDATES AND THE GOVERNOR'S SON WILL RUN FOR RE-ELECTION AND NOT RUN FOR CHIEF JUSTICE.

THAT COVERS THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY PASS FOR KENNEDY WHO WILL LIKELY FACE DEMOCRAT AND JENNIFER BRUNNER.

WHAT IS THE REASON HE'S CONSIDERING THIS.

AT LEAST TRY TO GET IT BACK.

>> JEN BRUNNER WERE RECENTLY ELECTED WITH THE COURT AND THEY CAN RUN WITH SAFETY.

IF THEY LOSE THEY CAN STILL REMAIN ON THE COURT.

PAT DEWINE, IT WAS AT THE SAME TIME AND GO FOR THE CHIEF'S POSITION AND GO FOR JUSTICE AND GO FOR RE-ELECTION, AND SO HIS ARGUMENT AND HIS STATEMENT IN WHAT HE TOLD THE GWINNETT NEWSPAPERS, SHE MAINTAINED THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY ON THE COURT, AND IT MADE SENSE FOR HIM TO VOTE FOR RE-ELECTION.

ALSO, WAS THERE A CHANCE THAT IF PAT DEWINE WAS TO RUN AGAINST KENNEDY AND LOSE, AND THEY WERE IN THE GENERAL -- JENNIFER BRUNNER AND LOSE AND THERE COULD BE A LITTLE WINDOW IN WHICH MIKE DEWINE COULD HOLD PAT DEWINE TO BRUNNER'S SEAT.

THAT PROBABLY WOULD NOT BE A GOOD LOOK FOR THE GOVERNOR.

>> AND THAT WAS MY QUESTION TO YOU, MIKE.

YOU'D THINK THE DEWINE NAME WOULD BE AN ADVANTAGE FOR PAT DEWINE.

HIS FATHER IS THE GOVERNOR.

THE POPULAR GOVERNOR, AND EXCEPT AMONG CONSERVATIVES OF THE FAR RIGHT OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

COULD THE DEWINE NAME BE HURTING PAT DEWINE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FOR THE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE AND COULD THAT HAVE BEEN A FACTOR.

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK HE'S GOT IT ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

HE CAN'T RUN FROM COVER AND EVERYBODY ELSE CAN.

IF HE WINS ONE OF THE TWO RACES HE'S OUT.

ONE OF THE PRIMARY CANDIDATES WILL LOSE IT AS A SEAT AND HE COULD GOT OPPOSITE WAY AND HAVE NO SEAT.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, JUSTICE DEWINE, IT SEEMS TO ME WHEN HE WAS SAYING HE WANTS TO DO HIS BEST TO CONSERVE THE MAJORITY, AND SHE WOULD MAKE A GOOD OPPONENT AS WOULD JENNIFER BRUNNER, AND HE WOULD BE REELECTED IN A SIX-YEAR TERM.

SHE'LL BE TOUGH TO BEAT FOR JENNIFER BRUNNER AND KENNEDY -- >> GREAT IRISH NAME WAS GOOD FOR THIS RACE.

>> AND THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE ANALYSIS THAT LAURA ADVANCED IS THAT I THINK IT'S CORRECT.

I THINK IT'S MUCH RISKIER FOR DEWINE TO TAKE THE STUFF AT THE MOMENT, BUT I THINK IT ALSO SPEAKS WELL AS TO HOW SERIOUSLY THEY TAKE JENNIFER BRUNNER'S CANDIDACY.

JUSTICE BRUNNER IN THE PAST HAS WON STATEWIDE OFFICE AND I'VE FOLLOWED HER CLOSELY AND IN PERSON AT TIMES AND HER CAMPAIGNS AND I THINK THAT SHE -- SHE'S GOING TO ADVANCE A VERY SERIOUS CHALLENGE TO THE CHIEF JUSTICE AND PERHAPSA HAVE A DEMOCRAT THERE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A WHILE.

THAT'S THE ISSUE THERE.

THE TIMING IS JUST NOT RIGHT FOR.

CAN'T WAIT FOR ANOTHER TIME, PERHAPS.

>> THE JUSTICE CANDIDATES' NAME.

WHERE DOES THAT STAND IN 2022?

>> TO BE DETERMINED, BUT I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IN THAT HAPPENS.

I WOULD SAY AFTER THE CHIEF'S POSITION, THIS IS A JOB THAT ONLY COMES UP IN EVERY NOW AND THEN AND MAUREEN O'CONNOR, SHE SAW IT SINCE 2011 AND IT WAS ON THE SUPREME COURT, BUT THE CHIEF DOES KIND OF SET THE AGENDA AND THE TONE AND CAN KIND OF FOCUS THE JUDICIARY ON MAJOR ISSUES AND LORI O'CONNOR GAVE US THIS WEEK THE KIND OF THING IN THE JUDICIARY AND IT WOULD HAVE CRIMINAL JUSTICE DATA AND IT SHOWS WHERE THE FOCUS WILL BE IN THE NEXT 15 MINUTES AS SHE FINISHES HER TERM.

>> SMOKING OR INGESTING MARIJUANA FOR FUN COULD BE ON THE BALLOT FOR 2022.

THE GROUP PUSHING FOR LEGALIZING RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IS GATHERING SIGNATURES TO CHANGE STATE LAW.

THE GROUP HAS DECIDED NOT TO CHANGE THE STATE CONSTITUTION SO IT DOES NOT NEED AS MANY SIGNATURES.

IT NEEDS TO GATHER 133,000 VOTER SIGNATURES, THEN THE PROPOSAL WOULD GO TO LAWMAKERS.

IF LAWMAKERS DO NOT ENACT THE PROPOSAL AS IS AND THEN SIT OUT ON IT.

AND IF IT WAS SUCCESSFUL IT WOULD BE ON NEXT NOVEMBER'S VALUE TO TRUST ALCOHOL.

>> THE LATEST POLL, NATIONALLY ABOUT 66 YEARS AGO, AND IT WAS 53% OF OHIO SUPPORTS IT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IF THIS GETS ON THE BALLOT IN 2022?

>> WELL, I SUPPOSE IT DEPENDS ON HOW IT'S APPROACHED, HOW IT HAS A VERY GOOD CHANCE OF PASSING IN 2022, AND I'M NOT SURE IT'S GOING TO GET THERE.

I THINK THE REPUBLICANS AND THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF WORKING THIS OUT THAN THEY DO REDISTRICTING.

I THINK EVERYBODY WOULD LIKE TO, AND IT JUST KEEPS CHANGING AND MORE AND MORE STATES AND THEY'RE IN FAVOR OF LEGALIZING MARIJUANA, AND I THINK IF THEY COME UP WITH SOMETHING IN MY JUDGMENT IS REASONABLE AND THE REPUBLICANS WILL PASS AND THE DEMOCRATS WILL JOIN THEM AND THERE IS NO NEED FOR A BALLOT IN 2022, BUT I WOULD SAY THEY WOULD MAKE A REASONABLE REQUEST, IT WOULD PASS IN 2022.

>> JUST IMAGINE WHAT MARIJUANA WOULD DO TO THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS IF IT WAS INCLUDED.

THE LINE MIGHT BE MORE FUZZY, BUT IT WOULD BE MORE FAIR.

>> THERE WAS A BALLOT THREAT AND THE LAWMAKER SAID WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT.

WILL THAT HAPPEN NOW OR IS THIS LEGISLATURE, TOO CONSERVATIVE FOR FULLY LEGALIZING POT IN OHIO?

>> JUST THE LEGISLATURE IS TRYING TO GET HIM.

>> THE LESSON LEARNED ON THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA SIDE WHERE THEY WILL MAKE THE BALLOT AND THE LEGISLATURE WILL NOT HAVE CONTROL OVER THE PARAMETERS OF THE PROPOSAL, AND PROBABLY WOULD CONVINCE SOME CONSERVATIVES TO GO AHEAD AND CRAFT CONSERVATIVE LEGAL RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA LAW RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE.

I THINK THAT 133,000 SIGNATURES IS A BIG LIFT.

GIVEN WHERE WE ARE WHEN WE ARE OUT AND ABOUT IN OHIO, IT WOULD BE A VERY POPULAR PETITION TO SIGN, AND IT WOULD DRIVE VOTER TURNOUT IN NOVEMBER 2022.

>> YEAH, AND SOME BIG -- BIG NAME POLITICAL CONSULTANTS AND A PETITION GATHERING FIRM APPARENTLY HAS BEEN SIGNED ON BY THE SUPPORTERS OF THIS.

>> CONGRESS IS TALKING ABOUT THIS AND IT'S GOING TO BE A WHILE, BUT THERE ARE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE THINKING THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL LEGALIZE MARIJUANA, RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA, WHY NOT WAIT FOR THE FEDS TO DO IT?

>> I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT'S NECESSARILY TRUE, UNLESS THEY PREVENT ACTION ON MARIJUANA WHICH I DON'T THINK THAT -- WHATEVER THAT THEY DO WOULD DO SO.

I DON'T THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO STOP NOW AND ON THIS PROGRAM I HAVE RECENTLY PREDICTED THAT I BELIEVE THAT OHIO WILL HAVE LEGAL RECREATIONAL USE OF MARIJUANA WITHIN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, AND AN INTERESTING OBSERVATION AND FOLLOW UP TO LAURA'S COMMENT.

I TRAVEL OFTEN TO CALIFORNIA, COLORADO AND MICHIGAN WHERE IT IS LEGAL AND I SPEND MORE ON THE STREETS IN COLUMBUS, OHIO THAN I DO IN ANNE ARBOR AND GRAND RAPIDS.

>> YOU'VE BEEN A PROSECUTOR FOR A LONG TIME, THE SEA CHANGE IS INCREDIBLE.

CAN YOU THINK ABOUT THE '70s AND '60s OF HOW MARIJUANA WAS VIEWED.

>> LET ME TELL YOU WHEN I STARTED OUT IN THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE IN 1971, THIS WILL BE HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA.

POSSESSION, I CAN'T REMEMBER ANY AMOUNT OR A CERTAIN AMOUNT, NOT MUCH, WAS TEN TO 20 YEARS.

THE SALE OF MARIJUANA, SALE, CIGARETTES TO CIGARETTES, 20 TO 40.

THE WORLD'S CHANGED A GREAT DEAL IN THE LAST 50 YEARS, AND IN THIS SITUATION, I THINK IT'S CHANGED FOR THE BEST.

>> A LOT OF FOLKS IN PRISON STILL BECAUSE OF THOSE LAWS.

TIME NOW FOR OUR OFF THE RECORD PARTING SHOT AND MIKE, WHY DON'T I START WITH YOU?

>> WELL, I JUST THINK THAT AFTER THE UNITED STATES VICTORY LAST NIGHT AND THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO THEY MAY HAVE AN AWAY GAME WITH BISHOP SYCAMORE.

AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> BISHOP SYCAMORE, WE'RE NOT QUITE SURE WHAT THAT SCHOOL IS ALL ABOUT.

>> JOE MAS, WHAT'S YOUR FINAL THOUGHT?

>> I'M SO GLAD HE MENTIONED BISHOP SYCAMORE.

THAT PARTICULAR EPISODE AND THAT STORY THAT'S DEVELOPING REMINDS US THAT IN THE 21st CENTURY THE LINES BETWEEN FACT AND FICTION HAVE PERMANENTLY BLURRED.

IF YOU QUESTION THE LEGITIMACY OF MY CLAIMS THEN YOU'RE CHALLENGING MY FAITH OR MY FREEDOM.

ALL OF THEM ARE OF EQUAL WEIGHT AS LONG AS THEY'RE A CLOSELY HELD BELIEF, GOD HELP US ALL.

>> YOUR FINAL THOUGHT.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND THE CONDOLENCES FOR THE FAMILY AND GREEN, AND I THINK HE WAS A PUBLIC SERVANT FOR 35 YEARS.

HE DIED RECENTLY AT THE AGE OF 66 AFTER CONTRACTING COVID.

>> YES.

CONDOLENCES TO HIS FAMILY.

I THINK WE WILL SEE CHANGES FROM STATE LAW FROM ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS ON THESE PREP SCHOOLS THAT APPARENTLY ARE CREATED TO FIT A FOOTBALL TEAM AND THEN THE TEAM INVOLVED.

THAT IS "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD," CHECK US OUT ONLINE AND ON OUR WEBSITE WOSU.ORG WHERE YOU CAN WATCH US ON YOUR TIME AND ON DEMAND.

FOR MY CREW AND MY PANEL, I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

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