Marijuana advocacy groups were disappointed, but also drew attention to the fact that Issue 3 had several provisions that divided the cannabis community. The ânoâ vote grabbed 65 percent of the vote, while the âyesâ vote only brought in 35 percent of the vote.
Issue 3 would have allowed adults aged 21 and older to use, buy and grow certain amounts of marijuana. It also would have established a full regulatory and taxation system, allowing as many as 10 growing facilities, The Associated Press reports.
âWhen it comes to the broader debate about legalizing marijuana, the defeat of Issue 3 wonât be a case of âas Ohio goes, so goes the nation.â This was about a flawed measure and a campaign that didnât represent what voters want,â Tom Angell, chairman of the Marijuana Majority, told The Daily Caller News Foundation. âTonightâs results â and the choices that inevitably led up to them â Â are especially sad for Ohioans who use marijuana and will continue to be treated like criminals for no good reason. And this is particularly heartbreaking for those who need medical cannabis to treat serious ailments.â
Most major marijuana organizations did not endorse the measureâneither did they pour many resources into supporting the campaign, which attracted criticism for poor execution. In particular, the campaign used a marijuana superhero mascot. Opponents seized on the mascot as an example of marketing the drug to children.
More specifically, Issue 3 would have restricted the market to a tiny group of growersâwithout much space for competition.
âOhio voters decided to wait for a more traditional legalization measure to come up for a vote. Ohio voters very clearly support taxing and regulating the cannabis industry, but the details of the initiative caused hang ups that need resolution,â Leslie Bocskor, managing partner of Electrum Partners, told The Daily Caller News Foundation. âEven after tonightâs vote, it is clear that the public finds comfort in legalizing cannabis with the right underlying framework.â
For Kyle Sherman, CEO of Flowhub, a software system for managing cannabis grow operations, the problem is that the measure would have created a monopoly. Voters are interested in seeing marijuana legal, but are clearly not willing to pay any price.
âVoters rejected the notion of legislating a monopoly, not cannabis legalization,â Sherman said. âThey realize that legalization is so much more than the right to buy, sell or use cannabis. This is about taking steps to dismantle policies that tear families and communities apart, and making more sensible decisions about how we use our tax dollars and law enforcement resources.â
Source: The Daily Caller