Next month Ohio voters could legalize recreational marijuana via a citizens initiative.
On November 7, Ohio voters will decide the fate of Issue 2, an initiative that would make Ohio the 24th state to legalize marijuana for all uses.
Although anything can happen and proponents of the measure argue that nothing can be taken for granted, things are looking good for Issue 2. Polling released last month by Fallon Research & Communications found that 59% of Ohio voters support legalizing marijuana with 32% opposed and just 9% undecided. A poll released last week by FM3 Research found that support for marijuana legalization among likely Ohio voters was even higher at 67%.
If passed into law, Issue 2 would legalize marijuana for those 21 and older. They would be allowed to possess of up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and up to 15 grams of marijuana concentrates, and they could legally grow up to six mature marijuana plants.
Issue 2 would establish a Division of Cannabis Control, as part of the Department of Commerce, with the authority to “license, regulate, investigate, and penalize adult use cannabis operators, adult use testing laboratories, and individuals required to be licensed.” The state would be required to issue at least 50 licenses for marijuana retail outlets.
According to a recently released report, the state could gain up to $403 million in new tax revenue from the legal distribution of marijuana and marijuana products to those 21 and older.
In 2015 Ohio voters rejected an initiative to legalize marijuana. However, the initiative was deeply flawed, with opponents arguing it would have created a marijuana monopoly with the market being controlled by just 10 preselected producers, all donors to the campaign.
