Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Ohio Voters Reject Legalizing Marijuana For Medical, Recreational Use
Ohio voters rejected a ballot measure Tuesday legalizing marijuana for recreational and medical uses, dealing a blow to pot industry investors looking to build on a series of ballot victories across the country. (Peters, 11/3)
Ohio voters on Tuesday rejected a controversial marijuana legalization measure at the polls in that state. Recent surveys showed support in Ohio for marijuana legalization, but voters balked at the specifics of the ballot initiative, which would have created an oligopoly on marijuana production for a small handful of the initiative's wealthy donors. (Ingraham, 11/3)
They'll be back. The creators of Ohio's failed marijuana legalization issue said Tuesday night they heard the voters and will put a revised plan on the ballot next year. (Borchardt, 11/4)
Unofficial election results found that the proposed constitutional amendment, known as Issue 3, was defeated 65.1% to 34.8%. Voters did write into the Ohio Constitution a provision known has Issue 2 that prohibits the establishment of a 鈥渕onopoly, oligopoly or cartel鈥 in the state鈥檚 founding document. The ballot issue, which the state legislature wrote expressly to defeat the marijuana language, passed 52.6% to 47.4%. (SAker, 11/3)
Failure of the proposed state constitutional amendment followed an expensive campaign, a legal fight over its ballot wording, an investigation into petition signatures 鈥 and, predominantly, a counter campaign against a network of 10 exclusive growing sites it would have created. It was the only marijuana legalization question on the 2015 statewide ballots. About 65 percent of voters opposed the measure, compared to 35 percent in favor. (Smyth, 11/4)