TOLEDO, Ohio — Voters in the state of Ohio have rejected a ballot measure, Issue 3, that would have made medical and recreational marijuana legal within the Buckeye state.
With 88 percent of precincts reporting, 1,836,149 voters rejected the measure with 1,008,926 voters in favor of it. That equals 65 percent for the “no” column and 35 percent in the “yes” column.
If passed, Issue 3 would have allowed for 10 companies to grow and sell medical and recreation marijuana throughout the state of Ohio. Sales and use would have been regulated by a Marijuana Control Commission.
The 10 dispensaries were going to be built in the suburbs of Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus and one in Toledo. The Toledo location would have been constructed west of I-75 just a stones throw away from the Michigan state line.
Anyone over the age of 21 would have been allowed to grow, use, possess and share up to eight ounces of marijuana.
“We’d like to thank the hundreds of thousands of Ohioans who worked tirelessly to put Issue 3 on the ballot, educate friends and family members and who voted to bring marijuana reform to our state,” said ResponsibleOhio, the organization behind Issue 3. “We would have never gotten this far without your support. All the things we’ve fought for are true. Ohioans still need treatment and deserve compassionate care. And our state needs the jobs and tax revenue that marijuana legalization will bring.”
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine issued the following statement:
“Tonight’s vote is a resounding statement that Ohioans do not support the enshrinement of marijuana cartels in Ohio’s Constitution. Tonight is a great victory for Ohio’s families, public safety, and the democratic process.”
Michigan is expected to be the next state to tackle the marijuana issue on the November 2016 ballot.