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 Issue 3, which would have added an amendment to the state
constitution that legalizes both the personal and medical use of
marijuana for those over 21 years old, was defeated by nearly a
two-to-one margin, the projections said.
The measure was criticized for allowing the main backers of the
proposal cartel-like powers over the industry in the state for
several years, an arrangement that rubbed many voters who supported
legalization of the drug the wrong way, analysts said.
With 75 percent of precincts reporting, the measure lost in every
one of the state’s 87 counties, with one county not reporting. It
also lost in urban areas and counties with a large population of
college students, with 1,628,521 voting against and 887,327 voting
for legalization.
Ohio Governor John Kasich, a Republican running for U.S. president,
said in a statement that he was “proud Ohioans voted no on Issue 3
and instead chose a path that helps strengthen our families and
communities”.
Ohio is considered a political bellwether, with the candidate who
wins the state usually winning the presidency. A victory for
recreational marijuana in Ohio could have changed the national
conversation on legalization, said Gary Daniels of the Ohio American
Civil Liberties Union.
The states that have legalized the recreational usage of marijuana
are Alaska, Colorado, Washington and Oregon, as well as the District
of Columbia. About two dozen states allow its use for medical
reasons.
Seven other states are expected to vote on recreational marijuana
legalization next year.
Issue 3 would have granted exclusive rights for commercial marijuana
growth and distribution to 10 facilities across the state. Those
facilities are owned by investors in the legalization movement.
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Critics say that creates a monopoly, and responded with a rival
ballot measure called Issue 2. That would nullify legalization if it
creates "an economic monopoly or special privilege" for a private
entity.
With more than half of all precincts reporting, Issue 2 was passing
with a 4 percent margin.
NORML has endorsed the legalization measure, although with "some
hesitancy" because of the limited number of growing sites, said
Danielle Keane, political director for NORML, a legalization
advocacy group.
(Reporting by Kim Palmer; Writing by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Eric
Walsh and Muralikumar Anantharaman)
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