Ohio Advocates Resubmit Cannabis Legalization Petition

The Ohio Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol has re-submitted a petition to legalize adult-use cannabis, Marijuana Moment reports. The campaign’s first draft submitted last month with more than the 1,000 signatures needed for a review was rejected by Republican Attorney General (AG) David Yost on procedural grounds, prompting the resubmission.

Yost said he was “unable to certify the proposed summary as fair and truthful” and listed seven other issues with the first draft, writing the petition “does not properly advise a potential signer of a proposed measure’s character and limitations.”

Using the feedback from the AG, the group revised the document, collected more signatures, and turned in the new petition last week. The AG’s Office has 10 days to review the new proposal, which, if approved, will allow activists to start gathering more signatures.

In contrast with past efforts—Ohioans rejected a 2015 adult-use constitutional amendment and the 2020 ballot measure was put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic—the new petition is a statutory measure and not a constitutional amendment.

Once approved by the Attorney General’s Office, the campaign must collect 132,887 signatures to trigger a four-month legislative review during which legislators can adopt, reject, or amend the petition. If the legislature fails to adopt the measure, advocates must collect an additional 132,887 signatures to get the question on 2022 ballots.

If passed, the new law would permit Ohioans to possess up to 2.5 ounces of flower and grow six plants at home with a maximum of 12 per household.