Ohio voters have granted their approval to a ballot initiative, marking the state as the 24th in the nation to embrace the legalization of recreational marijuana. This expansion of legalization is now extending into more conservative regions of the country.
The “yes” vote on Issue 2 indicates that individuals aged 21 and older in Ohio can now utilize, cultivate, or sell marijuana within a state-regulated and taxed framework. The new regulations will come into effect in 30 days. Advocates for the initiative campaigned with the goal of regulating marijuana in a manner akin to alcohol. Ohio had previously legalized medical marijuana in 2016, as have over three dozen other states across the nation, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Nevertheless, this year’s Ohio ballot initiative is part of a broader trend towards the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Efforts are currently underway to present similar recreational marijuana ballot initiatives before voters in states such as Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota in 2024. An attempt to legalize recreational marijuana in Oklahoma was unsuccessful earlier this year.
Opponents of the Ohio initiative ran advertisements suggesting that there would be no barriers preventing marijuana sellers from marketing edibles to children as if they were candy. These ads also featured law enforcement officers expressing concerns about the proposed legalization. However, the ballot initiative passed despite these concerns.
It’s important to note that the possession of marijuana remains illegal under federal law, but President Joe Biden has announced pardons for prior offenses related to simple marijuana possession, and the Department of Justice is adopting a hands-off approach in states that have legalized its use.
Furthermore, the Department of Health and Human Services has recently recommended that the Drug Enforcement Administration “reschedule” marijuana, which would reduce restrictions on its use.
