Ohio Voters Nix Recreational Marijuana
Buzzkill, dude! The ballot initiative, muddied by a mandate for a pot monopoly in the state did not pass, but the issue is likely to emerge again next year:
Ohioans pushed a monopoly marijuana-legalization proposal out the door Tuesday by a nearly 2-to-1 vote.
But the question is, will pot make a comeback?
Although Issue 3 was handily defeated, the debate and conversations about the issue have convinced House Speaker Cliff Rosenberg, R-Clarksville, and other state lawmakers who were staunchly opposed to legalization to now say it may be time to move ahead with medical marijuana.
“After going through this process, myself and many of my colleagues realize there’s tremendous support for medical marijuana and something we should have a bigger discussion about,” said Rep. Ryan Smith, R-Bidwell, a leader in the House.
That could be in the form of a pilot program or some other narrowly written legislation, Smith said. He noted that Rep. Wes Retherford, R-Hamilton, already has proposed a medical marijuana bill.
“In talking to people, it was surprising to me how many said they support medical marijuana,” Smith said. “We obviously want to help the parents with children that are ill and the elderly that are suffering. We just want to make sure the scientists tell us it will help and we write it in a responsible way.”
Some advocates were already talking about another ballot issue in 2016 even as ResponsibleOhio backers were stinging from a sound thrashing at the ballot box after spending an estimated $25 million on the campaign. The issue appeared headed to defeat in all 88 counties, according to incomplete results from Husted’s office. …
Companion State Issue 2, an amendment hurriedly proposed by state lawmakers to make it more difficult for special economic interests, like ResponsibleOhio, to amend the Ohio Constitution in the future, didn’t have universal support. There was considerable confusion about the issue and it lost in several counties, including Athens, Ashtabula, Hocking, Pike and Preble. The fate of Issue 2, while important for the future, is irrelevant in this election with Issue 3 losing.
When implemented, Issue 2 will require supporters of monopolies, oligopolies and cartels to secure voter approval twice at the same election — once to exempt the issue from the monopoly ban and a second time for the proposal itself.
And – wouldntchaknowit – there were (shock!) problems with computerized voting machines:
Tuesday night’s vote-counting process was set back 90 minutes when ResponsibleOhio went to court complaining that problems with electronic poll books at some Hamilton County polling places caused voting delays. Common Pleas Court Judge Robert Ruehlman ordered polls there to stay open until 9 p.m. instead of closing at the normal time of 7:30.
Copyright 2015 Liberaland
By: dave-dr-gonzo
David Hirsch, a.k.a. Dave "Doctor" Gonzo*, is a renegade record producer, video producer, writer, reformed corporate shill, and still-registered lobbyist for non-one-percenter performing artists and musicians. He lives in a heavily fortified compound in one of Manhattan's less trendy neighborhoods.
* Hirsch is the third person to use the pseudonym, a not-so-veiled tribute to journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson, with the permission of his predecessors Gene Gaudette of American Politics Journal (currently webmaster and chief bottlewasher at Liberaland) and Stephen Meese at Smashmouth Politics.
15 responses to Ohio Voters Nix Recreational Marijuana
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Budda November 4th, 2015 at 09:09
Hopefully Ohioians were voting against the monopoly portion of this bill and not against legalization.
Kick Frenzy November 4th, 2015 at 19:53
There’s no “hope” about it.
That’s exactly what they were voting against.
It can be easily seen by comparing the votes on Issue 3 to the ones on Issue 2.
Along with strong votes against 3, there were strong votes in favor of 2.
It’s obvious to anyone with half a brain that Ohio voted against monopolies, not against legalizing pot.
Linda McLaren November 5th, 2015 at 07:25
Tommie November 4th, 2015 at 09:36
Eventually, when they see how other states are doing well and making good money and cuts out the dealers, they will jump on board! All that money is hard to pass up! Imo!
Foundryman November 4th, 2015 at 10:28
The anti-pot fear mongers came out in force in the last two weeks. DeWine wrote a big op-ed letter to tell everyone how their kids would all become pot head drug addicts. Huston lied through his teeth to convince people big money monopolies would take over the entire state. And of course there’s the states heroin ‘epidemic’ that’s somehow is directly tied to pot, that even the national media ran with.
I’m surprised they didn’t run Reefer Madness on all the local channels and before church.
Leslie Foster November 4th, 2015 at 10:31
crc3 November 4th, 2015 at 12:10
These people never have even tried marijuana much less know anything about it. They are as stupid as the DEA…
Suzanne McFly November 4th, 2015 at 10:37
It failed because of the monopolies that would of been created not because Ohio doesn’t support legalization.
William November 4th, 2015 at 12:52
Thank goodness.
My nephew shot up the pot, and now he’s gay.
Hirightnow November 4th, 2015 at 17:20
Did he get the ebola?
Because I’ve heard that snorting the pot with a shared mirror can give you the ebola…
William November 5th, 2015 at 01:43
Among other horrible disease’s. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/99f468a5d9665d599e3c2f30dc4d5872fa70bee31d5b7e6cc0994a9ec35e20f9.jpg
bpollen November 5th, 2015 at 04:39
It always got stuck in the needle for me. My arms were like pin-cushions, and I still had a syringe fulla buds. That’s why I chose heroin!
See, it IS a gateway drug!
robert November 4th, 2015 at 13:33
in john boehners home state ?
i knew it wouldn’t pass
amersham46 November 4th, 2015 at 18:39
well they are back to smoking turnip greens
oldfart November 5th, 2015 at 01:57
Coming to a state near you…tens of millions of new tax revenue.
Oligarchs need not apply.