On Tuesday, Ohio became the 24th state in the U.S. to legalize the recreational use of weed. Even though the state is majority Republican, they embraced a move that is considered more on the liberal side.
Medicinal marijuana has been legal in Ohio since 2016.
In 2015, Ohio voters had refused a plan that would have limited commercial licenses for growing marijuana to the rich folks who supported attempts to legalize it.
Now, it joins other mostly Republican states like Montana, Alaska and Missouri who have legalized the substance. Over 2 million Ohio voters—approximately 57 percent—supported the effort to make it legal per unofficial results from state election officials.
Most residents voted “yes” vote on Issue 2, meaning people age 21 and over in the state will be able to use, grow or sell marijuana under a regulation-and-tax program imposed by the state. The measure will go into effect on December 7.
Those who supported the of the measure campaigned on the premise that it will be regulated “like alcohol.”
Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize recreational weed use through ballot initiatives back in 2012. More Democrat-leaning states have also pushed to legalize it recently with New York doing just that in 2021.
Efforts to legalize marijuana in Oklahoma failed earlier this year. There are attempts now taking place to implement recreational marijuana ballot measures in 2024 in states like Nebraska, Florida and South Dakota.
Those who fought against weed being allowed in Ohio aired ads that claimed edibles would be marketed to kids to children as candy—and even had cops speaking out against legalizing it in the ads.
Luckily, the measure passed anyway. Weed possession is still categorized as a federal crime. However, President Biden has announced pardons for prior offenses of simple marijuana possession.
In addition, the Justice Department is adopting a more removed approach in the states that have legalized it.