AAWH - Advocates in Ohio get extension to get marijuana legalization on ballot

2023-07-27 14:43:09 ET

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose (Rep.) has granted an extension to Aug 4 to marijuana advocates to gather more signatures to get a legalization question on the November ballot.

Backers of the question needed to collect 124,046 signatures by July 25 to get it on the Nov. 7 ballot. LaRose determined advocates were 679 signatures short, but granted a 10-day extension to make up the shortfall,

Tom Haren, a spokesman for the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, told the Associated Press getting the additional signatures wouldn't be a problem as a majority of Ohioans support adult-use marijuana.

A USA TODAY Network/Suffolk University poll that came out July 26 found ~59% of respondents favor adult-use cannabis l egalization, with ~35% opposed and 6% undecided.

The ballot proposal would allow those 21 and up to buy as much as 2.5 ounces of cannabis. There would also be a 10% tax on sales.

Medical marijuana has been legal in the state since 2016.

Multi-state operators Curaleaf ( OTCPK:CURLF ), Columbia Care ( OTCQX:CCHWF ), Green Thumb Industries ( OTCQX:GTBIF ), Verano ( OTCQX:VRNOF ), Trulieve ( OTCQX:TCNNF ), Cresco Labs ( OTCQX:CRLBF ), Ayr Wellness ( OTCQX:AYRWF ), Ascend Wellness ( OTCQX:AAWH ), Jushi ( OTCQX:JUSHF ), and MariMed ( OTCQX:MRMD ) have a presence in Ohio.

More on state marijuana legalization

Minnesota becomes latest state to legalize adult-use marijuana

First cannabis super PAC Legalize America launches

States brought in $3.8B in marijuana tax revenues in 2022

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