Nick Lachey Set Back by Ohio’s Vote Not to Legalize Marijuana

Another issue was that Ohio hasn’t even legalized medical marijuana as an intermediate step, which may have made undecided voters nervous. “Ohioans still need treatment and deserve compassionate care”.

A few who voted “no” on legalization confirmed their dislike that a small group of investors would have exclusive rights to grow pot commercially.

While majority of voters would have voted for legalization, they did otherwise to show their strongest objection against billionaires prowling to monopolize the supposed business in legal cannabis.

Thirty-nine percent of Lucas County voters supported Issue 3 while 63 percent said no.

Issue 3 would have awarded exclusive rights for commercial marijuana growth and distribution to 10 facilities owned by wealthy investors across the state.

The pro-legalization ResponsibleOhio campaign spent at least $12 million on ads. He also said the many voices in the coalition were able to overcome Issue 3’s megabucks advertising campaign.

Supporters claimed they were not surprised by the rejection of a ballot measure that would have allowed both recreational and medical use of the drug.

“I can’t believe I voted “no” when it was finally on the ballot”, said Marty Dvorchak, 62, of the northern Cincinnati suburb of Fairfield. The legislation would have provided an amendment to the state’s constitution, effectively implementing a third-party monopoly to control an entire industry without any government regulation.

Ohio, considered a bellwether politically because the presidential candidate who wins that state often captures the election, would have been the first Midwest state to legalize recreational marijuana, joining Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Oregon and the District of Columbia.

The statement doesn’t explicitly state if the group will have another ballot initiative in 2016 and the group says its unwilling to elaborate on what plans, if any, are in the works for next year. “If you can use marijuana in order to improve quality of life for people that are sick or have medical problems, people think that’s a good idea”, Schiavoni said. “And our state needs the jobs and tax revenue that marijuana legalization will bring”.

M.L. SCHULTZE, BYLINE: Close to 3 million Ohioans voted on the marijuana legalization, and almost two-thirds said no. Jim Gumpl, an Akron Democrat, was one.