Ohio became the latest state to legalize recreational marijuana on Tuesday with the approval of Issue 2, a landmark ballot initiative that legalizes cannabis for adults, according to a projection from CNN. Issue 2 led with 55.6% of the vote as of Tuesday evening, prompting CNN to project that the marijuana legalization measure will prevail once all votes have been tallied.
With the success of Issue 2, Ohio joins the 23 states that have legalized cannabis for adults. Ohio voters also approved a proposed constitutional amendment to protect abortion and other reproductive rights, an issue that set the stage for strong voter turnout in the state. Early voting on both measures began on October 11 and ended last week on November 5.
Ohio voters legalized marijuana on Tuesday with the passage of Issue 2.
Lucas McCann, co-founder and chief scientific officer at cannabis consulting firm CannDelta Inc., hailed the results of Tuesday’s election when the passage of Issue 2 became apparent.
“This step towards cannabis legalization signifies a progressive shift and the beginning of a chapter for the state, reflecting the shifting perceptions of cannabis across America,” McCann said in a statement about the marijuana legalization vote. “Ohioans will soon see a bolstered state economy, increased job opportunities, and tax revenue that can be reinvested in Ohio’s aging infrastructure like schools and hospitals.”
Ohio’s Issue 2 Legalizes Cannabis For Adults
The passage of Issue 2 legalizes recreational marijuana in Ohio for adults 21 and older, who are permitted to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and up to 15 grams of cannabis concentrates. The proposal also legalizes marijuana cultivation for personal use, with adults allowed to grow up to six cannabis plants at home. Households with more than one adult are permitted to grow a total of 12 plants.
The commercial production and sales of cannabis products will be regulated by a new state agency dubbed the Division of Cannabis Control, which will have the authority to “license, regulate, investigate, and penalize adult use cannabis operators, adult use testing laboratories, and individuals required to be licensed,” according to the text of the measure. Cannabis products will carry a 10% tax, which will be dedicated to administrative costs of marijuana regulation, substance misuse treatment programs and a social equity and jobs program. Recreational marijuana legalization in Ohio is expected to create an adult-use cannabis market worth up to $2 billion, according to MJBizDaily, bringing the state a projected net public benefit of approximately $260 million per year.
Municipalities with licensed recreational marijuana dispensaries will also receive a share of cannabis tax revenue. Under the proposal’s social equity program, some cannabis cultivation and dispensary licenses will be reserved for individuals from communities that have faced disproportionate enforcement of Ohio’s current marijuana laws.
Ohio’s Issue 2 legalizes marijuana for adults 21 and older and creates a framework for regulated … [+]
The news of Ohio’s decision to legalize recreational marijuana for adults was welcomed by representatives of the regulated cannabis industry. Pete Gallagher, CEO and co-founder of Insa, a cannabis company with operations in Ohio and three other states, says that his company views Tuesday’s vote to legalize cannabis in Ohio “as a monumental stride towards a more inclusive and regulated cannabis market.”
“This decision reflects the state’s embrace of a forward-thinking approach to cannabis, fostering economic growth, the potential for job creation, and more community comradery,” Gallagher writes in an email. “We’re excited about the opportunity to continue contributing to this emerging market by providing a unique and educational retail experience while offering a diverse range of premium, quality cannabis products that meet the evolving needs of both recreational and medicinal consumers.”
Last Prisoner Project (LPP), a nonprofit working to secure the freedom of all people incarcerated for cannabis offenses, acknowledged the progress made with the passage of Issue 2. However, the group also noted that the measure does not have provisions to automatically expunge criminal records of past marijuana-related offenses.
“Last Prisoner Project acknowledges the progress but urges Ohio’s policymakers to act swiftly in enacting state-initiated, comprehensive relief measures,” Stephen Post, senior communications associate at LPP, wrote in a statement. “The fight for justice extends beyond legalization; it demands a commitment to right the wrongs of the past, ensuring that those unjustly burdened by cannabis convictions find redress and freedom.”
Will Lawmakers Roll Back Issue 2?
Legalization advocates are concerned that Republican lawmakers, who have repeatedly declined to advance comprehensive cannabis policy reform measures, will attempt to change Issue 2 despite its success at the polls. As an initiated statute, Issue 2 can be altered or even repealed by the state legislature. In October, Senate President Matt Huffman warned that if Ohio voters approve marijuana legalization, lawmakers might repeal key provisions of Issue 2. Huffman said during a speech on the Senate floor last month that if voters approve Issue 2, “this initiated statute is coming right back before this body.”
“We’re going to have a mental health crisis on our hands,” if legalization becomes law, Huffman warned, according to a report from online cannabis resource Marijuana Moment. “We are going to pay for this for years and years and years, and it’s only going to get worse.”
Huffman later explained to reporters that he would not try to repeal Issue 2 in its entirety if it is succeeds at the polls, saying that he would instead “advocate for reviewing it and repealing things or changing things that are in it.”