A proposal to legalize recreational and adult-use cannabis in the Buckeye state is coming to ballots in November.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced that industry group the “Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol” has officially garnered the necessary signatures to advance a ballot initiative asking Ohio voters whether they would like to legalize recreational, or adult-use, cannabis. Now, Ohio voters will consider the measure statewide as it appears on ballots on November 7, 2023.
The approval comes after a ten-day remediation period where the Coalition was required to obtain additional signatures, after falling just 679 signatures short during its initial review.
The initiative would amend the Ohio Revised Code to allow adults 21 and over to buy and possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis and to grow plants at home. A 10% tax would be imposed on purchases, to be spent on administrative fees, addiction treatment programs, and social equity programs. The initiative also proposes to establish a new Division of Cannabis Control within the Ohio Department of Commerce. The Division of Cannabis Control would be empowered with promulgating rules and regulations concerning Ohio’s adult-use cannabis industry.
Ohio currently only permits cannabis use medicinally, through its Medical Marijuana Control Program. If voters approve the initiative, Ohio will become the 24th state to legalize cannabis for adult-use.
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