The Buckeye state will put pot legalization to the ballot on Nov. 3, Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted confirmed.
Putting marijuana legalization on the ballot took a couple tries: Ohio’s first attempt failed, but pro-pot advocate group ResponsibleOhio, a driving force behind the initiative, pulled through with the minimum 305,591 signatures. The group’s investors pledged to spend at least $20 million to convince Ohioans to vote for legalization.
If the measure passes, however, legalization might take a while: in June, the Ohio Legislature hurriedly placed a measure, Issue 2, that prohibited “a monopoly, oligopoly or cartel” in Ohio of federally-controlled substances like marijuana. The ResponsibleOhio initiative calls for a limit to pot production by ten farms, which state legislators argue might constitute an oligopoly.
Ohio follows ballot initiatives from across the country. Thus far, recreational marijuana is legal in Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Washington, D.C.; 28 states make exceptions for medical marijuana.
This is What the First Day of Legal Weed Looked Like in Washington
The press gathers at Cannabis City, the first dispensary with a state license to sell recreational marijuana to the public in Seattle, July 8, 2014. Brian Cahn—Zuma PressAlison Holcomb (2nd L), Criminal Justice Director of ACLU of Washington State and co-author of state Initiative 502 legalizing marijuana, and Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes (2nd R) take part in the opening ceremonies at Cannabis City during the first day of legal retail marijuana sales in Seattle on July 8, 2014. Jason Redmond—ReutersA man waiting in line to buy recreational marijuana displays his pot-leaf tattoo oustside of Top Shelf Cannabis in Bellingham, Wash. on July 8, 2014.Ted S. Warren—APA Dope Magazine photographer takes a photo at Cannabis City in Seattle on July 8, 2014. Brian Cahn—Zuma PressAllan Ridge shows off the centerfold of Northwest Leaf while waiting in line at Cannabis City in Seattle on July 8, 2014. Brian Cahn—Zuma PressThe price of two grams of a strain of marijuana named "Sweet Lafayette," is displayed at Top Shelf Cannabis in Bellingham, Wash. on July 8, 2014.Ted S. Warren—APCustomers on the left and sales clerks on the right pass "sniff jars" back and forth on a glass countertop as they discuss different strains of recreational marijuana at Top Shelf Cannabis in Bellingham, Wash. on July 8, 2014.Ted S. Warren—APRyan Hutchen of Columbia, S.C., looks at different cannabis strains at recreational marijuana store Cannabis City in Seattle on July 8, 2014. Stephen Brashear—EPAJaime Henifin smells the marijuana strain "Opal OG Kush" while shopping at Top Shelf Cannabis in Bellingham, Wash. on July 8, 2014.David Ryder—Getty ImagesJeremy Hunter, right, an employee at Top Shelf Cannabis talks about different strains of marijuana as he works behind a case displaying glass pipes in Bellingham, Wash. on July 8, 2014.Ted S. Warren—APDeb Greene, the first customer at Cannabis City, holds up her purchase signed by owner James Lathrop during the first day of legal retail marijuana sales in Seattle on July 8, 2014. Jason Redmond—ReutersCale Holdsworth, of Abeline, Kan., who waited in line since 4:00 am, holds up his purchase after being the first in line to buy legal recreational marijuana at Top Shelf Cannabis in Bellingham, Wash. on July 8, 2014.Ted S. Warren—APCashier Andrew Powers completes a cash marijuana purchase at Cannabis City during the first day of legal retail marijuana sales in Seattle on July 8, 2014. Jason Redmond—Reuters
