Ohio has officially become the 24th state to legalize recreational marijuana.
Ohio voters approved Issue 2 on Tuesday, a new law that will allow anyone 21 or older to purchase up to 2.5 ounces of weed for recreational use. For those who choose to grow their own, they are permitted to cultivate up to six plants in their home. Since the state legalized medical marijuana in 2016, it was inevitable that it would eventually be legalized completely.
The passing of Issue 2 also gives the green light to a new division called the Division of Cannabis Control housed in Ohio’s Department of Commerce. This office will oversee the weed industry in the state. This includes a 10% tax on all marijuana purchases, which will go towards drug rehabilitation programs and job assistance programs. Tom Haren, spokesman for the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, which pushed for the bill, expressed satisfaction with the vote.
“Marijuana is no longer a controversial issue. Ohioans demonstrated this by passing State Issue 2 in a landslide. Ohioans are being extremely clear on the future they want for our state: adult-use marijuana legal and regulated,” Haren said in a statement.
Ohio still faces a challenge with keeping recreational weed legal. Per Politico, since Issue 2 is a citizen-voted law, state legislators do have the ability to repeal the statute or alter it at any time. Still, 57% of Ohio voters were pro-Issue 2, which could mean a lengthy legal battle if lawmakers choose to overturn it.
