Issue 2
November 7, 2023 (2023-11-07)
Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol initiative
Results
Choice
 Votes  %
Yes 2,183,734 56.97%
No 1,649,384 43.03%
Total votes 3,833,118 100.00%
County results
Yes:      50–60%      60–70%
No:      50–60%      60–70%

The Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol initiative, listed on the ballot as Issue 2,[1] is a ballot initiative for legalization of cannabis in the U.S. state of Ohio that was passed by voters on November 7, 2023.

History

State law in Ohio allows citizens to bring initiatives before the state legislature, with signatures of at least 3 percent of the total vote cast for the office of governor at the last gubernatorial election. These must have been obtained from at least 44 of the 88 counties in Ohio. From each of these 44 counties, there must be signatures equal to at least 1.5 percent of the total vote cast for the office of governor in that county at the last gubernatorial election.[2][3]

Upon meeting these requirements, a group can force the legislature to consider an initiative. Without action from the General Assembly or the Governor, by collecting more signature of a quantity again meeting the above-mentioned requirements, the group can force to send it to voters on the November ballot. In Ohio, a group called the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol brought the initiative to the Ohio Secretary of State to be a 2022 ballot initiative. It was approved on August 30, 2021, for signature gathering.[4][5] Over 200,000 signatures were submitted to the state at the end of 2021.[6][7]

A lawsuit over filing deadlines resulted in the Ohio Secretary of State and the state legislature agreeing the initiative's signatures collected in 2021 and 2022 may be applied toward a 2023 ballot deadline.[8]

In July 2023, on an initial count of valid signatures, supporters came about 650 short. On August 3, more than ten times the remaining number required to validate the initiative for the November ballot were turned in to the secretary of state.[9] On August 16, 2023, the Secretary of State confirmed that the initiative would appear as a referendum ballot on November 7, 2023.[10]

The initiative was passed by voters on November 7, 2023.[11]

Provisions

Adults age 21 and up may purchase, possess and consume marijuana. Home grow of up to six plants per person or 12 plants per residence is allowed. The Division of Cannabis Control is established within the Ohio Department of Commerce to regulate commerce. Cannabis testing laboratories and supply chain are to be regulated.[7]

The initiative also specifies how tax revenues under the new law would be spent. Thirty-six percent (36%) would be designated for "social equity and jobs" programs, estimated to be as high as $150 million per year. Thirty-six percent (36%) would go to communities that have dispensaries. Twenty-five percent (25%) would go to education and addiction treatment programs, and 3% would be used for regulatory and administrative costs.[12]

The sponsor of the initiative, Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, is an affiliate of Marijuana Policy Project.[13]

Politics

Ohio passed medical cannabis (along with decriminalized cannabis) in 2016 under Ohio House Bill 523.[14]

In early 2022, pro-cannabis advocates gathered signatures to send recreational legalization measure to the state legislature. In April, the Senate president publicly announced that he would not bring the measure up for a vote. Under Ohio law, advocates now have a second opportunity to gather more signatures, and if they gather enough, the measure will go on the ballot in November. “The recreational cannabis petition collected 136,000 verified signatures, enough to get considered by the General Assembly, but would require an additional 132,877 signatures to proceed to the ballot.”[14]

The largest organized opposition comes from the Center for Christian Virtue, which believes legalized cannabis will produce negative impacts on neighborhoods and society's drug addiction problems. The main proponent behind the ballot initiative is the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol (CRMLA), which dismissed the Center for Christian Virtue's opposition as "Prohibition-style talking points from 20 years ago."[14]

In October 2023, Republican Senate President Matt Huffman warned that state legislators may repeal key provisions of Issue 2 if it passed.[15]

Endorsements

Yes
U.S. Senators
U.S. Representatives
State House members
  • Jamie Callender, state representative from the 57th district (2019–present; 1997–2004) (Republican)[18]
  • Ron Ferguson, state representative from the 96th district (2021–present) (Republican)[18]
  • Michele Grim, state representative from the 43rd district (2023–present) (Democrat)[19]
  • Allison Russo, Minority Leader of the Ohio House of Representatives (2022–present) and state representative from the 7th district (2023–present) and the 24th district (2019–2022) (Democrat)[20]
  • Casey Weinstein, state representative from the 34th district (2023–present) and the 37th district (2019–2022) (Democrat)[21]
Local officials
Individuals
Organizations
Newspapers
No
Statewide officials
  • Mike DeWine, 70th Governor of Ohio (2019–present), 50th Attorney General of Ohio (2011–2019), former U.S. Senator from Ohio (1995–2007), 59th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio (1991–1994), and former U.S. Representative from OH-7 (1983–1991) (Republican)[17]
State Senators
State House members
  • Sara Carruthers, state representative from the 47th district (2023–present) and the 51st district (2019–2022) (Republican)[20]
  • Jennifer Gross, state representative from the 45th district (2023–present) and the 52nd district (2021–2022) (Republican)[20]
  • Phil Plummer, state representative from the 39th district (2023–present) and the 40th district (2019–2022) (Republican)[20]
  • Bill Seitz, Majority Leader of the Ohio House of Representatives (2017–present), state representative from the 30th district (2017–present; 2001–2007), and former state senator from the 8th district (2007–2016) (Republican)[31]
Labor unions
Organizations
Newspapers
Declined to endorse
Organizations

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[lower-alpha 1]		 Margin
of error		 For Against Undecided
Data for Progress October 31–November 2, 2023 582 (LV) ± 4% 61% 34% 6%
Baldwin Wallace University Community Research Institute October 9–11, 2023 569 (RV) ± 4.5% 57% 35% 8%
Fallon Research August 22–25, 2023 501 (RV) ± 4.37% 59% 32% 9%
FM3 Research August 14–23, 2023 843 (LV) ± 3.5% 59% 36% 5%
USA Today/Suffolk University July 9–12, 2023 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 58.6% 34.8% 6.6%
  1. ↑ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear

Results by county

Breakdown of voting by county[39]
County Yes, % Yes, votes No, % No, votes
Adams 43.60% 3,316 56.40% 4,290
Allen 45.86% 13,954 54.14% 16,472
Ashland 44.72% 8,028 55.28% 9,923
Ashtabula 54.97% 16,450 45.03% 13,475
Athens 69.37% 12,096 30.63% 5,342
Auglaize 38.46% 6,661 61.54% 10,659
Belmont 48.23% 8,987 51.77% 9,646
Brown 50.35% 6,646 49.65% 6,553
Butler 56.80% 63,169 43.20% 48,044
Carroll 44.58% 4,028 55.42% 5,007
Champaign 52.19% 6,546 47.81% 5,997
Clark 55.54% 22,281 44.46% 17,835
Clermont 57.17% 42,099 42.83% 31,534
Clinton 51.18% 6,637 48.82% 6,331
Columbiana 48.34% 15,319 51.66% 16,372
Coshocton 48.86% 5,246 51.14% 5,490
Crawford 46.67% 5,948 53.33% 6,798
Cuyahoga 66.70% 256,183 33.30% 127,903
Darke 37.73% 6,757 62.27% 11,151
Defiance 46.81% 5,849 53.19% 6,645
Delaware 55.34% 52,211 44.66% 42,132
Erie 58.63% 16,273 41.37% 11,483
Fairfield 52.42% 28,462 47.58% 25,829
Fayette 48.39% 3,859 51.61% 4,115
Franklin 67.75% 279,253 32.25% 132,955
Fulton 42.13% 6,330 57.87% 8,694
Gallia 44.61% 3,231 55.39% 4,012
Geauga 51.75% 20,819 48.25% 19,412
Greene 51.66% 31,523 48.34% 29,499
Guernsey 49.74% 5,491 50.26% 5,549
Hamilton 65.51% 183,082 34.49% 96,396
Hancock 46.56% 11,787 53.44% 13,529
Hardin 48.48% 3,945 51.52% 4,192
Harrison 44.49% 2,030 55.51% 2,533
Henry 41.93% 4,111 58.07% 5,694
Highland 46.04% 5,337 53.96% 6,255
Hocking 53.41% 4,711 46.59% 4,110
Holmes 31.44% 2,702 68.56% 5,891
Huron 51.31% 9,029 48.69% 8,568
Jackson 48.61% 3,889 51.39% 4,111
Jefferson 48.81% 9,580 51.19% 10,046
Knox 47.43% 10,344 52.57% 11,467
Lake 58.89% 52,058 41.11% 36,335
Lawrence 51.62% 8,354 48.38% 7,831
Licking 52.55% 32,154 47.45% 29,035
Logan 49.23% 7,511 50.77% 7,747
Lorain 59.41% 64,908 40.59% 44,341
Lucas 61.08% 70,943 38.92% 45,205
Madison 49.90% 6,792 50.10% 6,820
Mahoning 51.78% 38,524 48.22% 35,873
Marion 53.10% 9,781 46.90% 8,639
Medina 53.71% 39,270 46.29% 33,841
Meigs 51.95% 3,337 48.05% 3,087
Mercer 34.23% 5,950 65.77% 11,432
Miami 48.37% 19,020 51.63% 20,299
Monroe 43.59% 1,795 56.41% 2,323
Montgomery 60.06% 99,269 39.94% 66,003
Morgan 44.97% 2,038 55.03% 2,494
Morrow 48.45% 6,251 51.55% 6,652
Muskingum 48.78% 12,103 51.22% 12,707
Noble 41.68% 1,703 58.32% 2,383
Ottawa 53.92% 9,112 46.08% 7,787
Paulding 44.91% 2,797 55.09% 3,431
Perry 51.60% 5,536 48.40% 5,193
Pickaway 48.23% 9,007 51.77% 9,667
Pike 46.61% 3,393 53.39% 3,886
Portage 58.42% 33,132 41.58% 23,582
Preble 47.20% 6,620 52.80% 7,404
Putnam 30.63% 4,370 69.37% 9,896
Richland 49.60% 19,568 50.40% 19,885
Ross 52.87% 11,171 47.13% 9,959
Sandusky 52.21% 10,532 47.79% 9,641
Scioto 47.29% 8,245 52.71% 9,190
Seneca 50.00% 8,808 50.00% 8,809
Shelby 38.98% 6,665 61.02% 10,435
Stark 51.70% 64,891 48.30% 60,612
Summit 60.40% 113,224 39.60% 74,245
Trumbull 52.92% 33,885 47.08% 30,151
Tuscarawas 42.53% 11,968 57.47% 16,169
Union 51.94% 13,213 48.06% 12,227
Van Wert 44.35% 4,227 55.65% 5,304
Vinton 52.28% 1,777 47.72% 1,622
Warren 51.75% 46,371 48.25% 43,238
Washington 47.44% 9,147 52.56% 10,135
Wayne 44.40% 16,219 55.60% 20,311
Williams 43.30% 5,205 56.70% 6,815
Wood 54.94% 25,167 45.06% 20,641
Wyandot 46.11% 3,524 53.89% 4,118

Reaction

On November 8, the day after polling, top Republican leaders in Ohio indicated the possibility of overturning the measures approved by the voters in the ballot, along with those of Issue 1 on abortion.[40] Republicans who oppose the initiative are able to change the law and to repeal it due to holding majorities in both the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate.[41] Ohio Senate leader Steve Huffman, a Republican, said that given the result, Ohio legislators "may consider amending the statute to clarify the questionable language regarding limits for THC and tax rates as well as other parts of the statute."[40] While Issue 2 mandates that marijuana tax revenue should be used to regulate marijuana, support substance abuse services, assist industry business owners and fund local governments where recreational business owners exist, Ohio House leader Jason Stephens, also a Republican, called for the Ohio "legislature to lead on how best to allocate tax revenues", and proposed "county jail construction and funding law enforcement training".[42]

Voter demographics

Ohio Issue 2 vote by demographic subgroup
Demographic subgroup[43] Yes No  % of
total vote
Total vote 57.0 43.0 100
Age
18–29 years old 84 16 12
30-44 years old 69 31 22
45-64 years old 53 47 35
65+ years old 40 60 31
Party ID
Democrat 79 21 32
Republican 30 70 35
Independent 64 36 33
Ideology
Liberal 85 15 34
Moderate 64 36 30
Conservative 23 77 36
Marital Status
Married 50 50 61
Unmarried 66 34 39
Married With Children?
Yes 58 42 23
No 56 44 77
Race
White 54 46 85
Black 72 28 10
Latino 66 34 3
Asian N/A N/A 1
Other N/A N/A 1
Gender
Male 58 42 47
Female 55 45 53
Area Type
Urban 65 35 40
Suburban 52 48 43
Rural 54 46 18
White Born-Again or Evangelical Christian
Yes 30 70 30
No 68 32 70
Parents
Men With Children 60 40 14
Women With Children 60 40 16
Men Without Children 57 43 33
Women Without Children 53 47 37
Education
Never Attended College 48 52 18
Some College 63 37 23
Associate's Degree 55 45 14
Bachelor's Degree 58 42 25
Advanced Degree 57 43 19
Union Household
Yes 63 37 30
No 55 45 70
2020 Presidential Vote
Biden 80 20 45
Trump 31 69 43
Another Candidate 63 37 5
Did Not Vote 64 36 4
Biden Approval
Strongly Approve 79 21 15
Somewhat Approve 80 20 24
Somewhat Disapprove 65 35 13
Strongly Disapprove 35 65 46

See also

References

  1. ↑ Smith, Julie Carr (August 24, 2023). "Backers blast approved ballot language for Ohio's fall abortion amendment as misleading". Associated Press. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  2. ↑ BeMiller, Haley. "Ohio legal marijuana advocates submit 29K more signatures for proposed law". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
  3. ↑ "Initiated Statute". Ohio Secretary of State. November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Group seeks legislation to legalize recreational marijuana in Ohio". Associated Press. July 27, 2021. Archived from the original on July 29, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021 – via WXIX-TV.
  5. ↑ Ohio Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2022), Ballotpedia
  6. ↑ BeMiller, Haley (December 20, 2021). "Ohio marijuana legalization measure secures 206K voter signatures for proposed law". The Columbus Dispatch – via Yahoo!.
  7. 1 2 "The Just Like Alcohol campaign submits signatures to state, one step closer to getting recreational marijuana on Ohio ballot next year", Cleveland.com, December 20, 2021
  8. ↑ Karen Kasler (May 13, 2022). "Ohio voters won't decide on initiative to legalize marijuana until at least next year". The Statehouse News Bureau. Archived from the original on 2022-05-14. Retrieved 2022-05-14 – via WKSU.
  9. ↑ "Group looking to legalize marijuana in Ohio submit additional signatures". WTVG. August 3, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Ohio effort to legalize recreational marijuana gets enough signatures for November ballot". The Hill. August 16, 2023.
  11. ↑ Carr Smyth, Julie (November 7, 2023). "Ohio Becomes Latest State To Legalize Recreational Marijuana". Associated Press. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  12. ↑ Slawson, Jeff (2022-02-01). "Fight to regulate marijuana like alcohol makes way to house floor". WOIO CBS 19. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
  13. ↑ "Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol". Ballotpedia. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  14. 1 2 3 "Adult-use cannabis advocates confident Ohio is ready for recreational nod". Financial Regulation News. 2022-02-28. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  15. ↑ Herrington, A.J. (November 7, 2023). "Ohio Legalizes Recreational Marijuana: What's Next For Taxpayers, Consumers And Business Owners". Forbes. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  16. 1 2 3 Shillcock, George (October 30, 2023). "Sherrod Brown takes stance on Issue 2 while JD Vance remains silent ahead of Election Day". WOSU. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  17. 1 2 Jaeger, Kyle (August 18, 2023). "GOP Congressman Says He'll Vote For Legal Marijuana On Ohio Ballot, As Governor Calls The Reform A 'Real Mistake'". Marijuana Moment. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  18. 1 2 Trau, Morgan (August 22, 2023). "Ohio Republicans split on marijuana legalization and could repeal proposal the day after it passes". Ohio Capital Journal. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  19. ↑ Grim, Michele (October 24, 2023). "To the editor: State Rep. Grim backs Issues 1 & 2". The Blade. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Kreemer, Avery (September 17, 2023). "Recreational marijuana: What both sides are saying about Ohio's Issue 2". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  21. ↑ Donaldson, Sarah (September 5, 2023). "If it passes on the ballot, Ohio lawmakers may alter recreational marijuana law". WDTN. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  22. ↑ Houmard, Celeste (October 18, 2023). "Cleveland mayor speaks to Fox 8 News, endorses Issue 1". FOX 8. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  23. ↑ Other Voices (October 11, 2023). "Ohio voters are ready to vote 'yes' on Issue 2". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  24. ↑ Herrington, A.J. (August 16, 2023). "Ohio Will Vote On Recreational Marijuana Legalization In November". Forbes. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  25. ↑ Farley, Philena I. (October 23, 2023). "Ohio Green Party Newsletter Highlights – October 2023". Ohio Green Party. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  26. ↑ BeMiller, Haley (October 26, 2023). "Group behind Ohio Issue 2 gets boost from marijuana industry ahead of Nov. 7 election". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  27. ↑ Fox, Morgan (August 21, 2023). "Major Marijuana Legalization Vote this November". NORML. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  28. ↑ Editorial Board (November 3, 2023). "Vote to Protect Abortion Rights, Legalize Marijuana, Prevent Gerrymandering". The Oberlin Review. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  29. ↑ Editorial Board (October 15, 2023). "Yes on Issue 2, legalizing recreational marijuana: endorsement editorial". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  30. ↑ Kasler, Karen (October 15, 2023). "Ohio's Senate president says he thinks lawmakers will change the marijuana law if voters pass Issue 2". WOUB. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  31. 1 2 3 DeNatale, Dave; Haidet, Ryan (October 3, 2023). "Ohio Issue 2: Here's what you need to know about recreational marijuana legalization initiative". WKYC. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  32. ↑ Donaldson, Sarah (August 30, 2023). "Who is campaigning against recreational marijuana in Ohio, and how?". WOWK-TV. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  33. ↑ "The Rundown: Issue 1 fails, but we continue the fight to defeat abortion in November". Center for Christian Virtue. August 16, 2023. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  34. 1 2 Sean McDonnell (October 2, 2023). "3 Ohio businesses groups oppose ballot proposal to legalize recreational marijuana, but proponents push back on claims". Cleveland.com.
  35. ↑ Boney, Stan (September 22, 2023). "Organizations issue statements opposing Ohio Issue Two". WKBN-TV. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  36. ↑ "Ohio Farm Bureau Opposes Issue 2". Morning AgClips. October 9, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  37. ↑ The Blade Editorial Board (October 12, 2023). "Editorial: 'No' on Issue 2". The Blade. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  38. ↑ Holmes, Debbie (September 27, 2023). "Issues 1 and 2 expected to draw higher voter turnout in off-year election". WOSU. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  39. ↑ "State Issue 2 To Commercialize, Regulate, Legalize, and Tax the Adult Use of Cannabis".
  40. 1 2 BeMiller, Haley (November 8, 2023). "Will of the voters? Republicans in Ohio pledge to push back on abortion, marijuana". USA Today. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  41. ↑ Smyth, Julie (November 8, 2023). "Ohio votes to legalize marijuana for adult recreational use, becoming 24th state to do so". The Associated Press. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  42. ↑ Hulsey, Lynn; Kreemer, Avery (November 8, 2023). "Issue 2: Ohio voters say yes to legal recreational marijuana for adults". Dayton Daily News. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  43. ↑ "Exit polls for Ohio ballot measure election results 2023 | CNN Politics". CNN.

Further reading

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