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Ohio elections chief reissues subpoenas in pot issue probe

Ohio Secretary of State's Office
Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted restarts investigation into ballot petitions filed by marijuana legalization group.

Ohio's elections chief says he has reissued subpoenas in an investigation into the ballot petitions of group supporting a marijuana legalization effort.

The move by Secretary of State Jon Husted  on Wednesday follows a federal lawsuit over his review of ResponsibleOhio's petition signatures.

A person identified as "John Doe" filed the suit last week. He alleges subpoenas in the probe seek documents from ResponsibleOhio with residents' personal information, creating a "chilling effect" and violating the First Amendment and privacy rights of those who support the legalization proposal.

Husted's special investigator withdrew the subpoenas Tuesday. Husted says new ones were issued Wednesday to ResponsibleOhio's leaders. 

 A court hearing scheduled for Thursday was canceled after Doe withdrew a temporary restraining order request, citing the withdrawal of the earlier subpoenas.

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