If Ohio is going to legalize marijuana this year, it’s probably going to need to happen on the ballot, a GOP state lawmaker who is cosponsoring a legalization bill said last week. At an event hosted by Ohio State University on Thursday, Rep. Ron Ferguson (R) expressed disappointment that the Republican-controlled legislature has declined to take action on cannabis reform and instead seems positioned to leave the issue up to voters if activists collect enough signatures to qualify their legalization measure for the November ballot. Ferguson said he would “like to see us have a legislative solution” and “really get accomplished within the statehouse”—but it’s apparent that leadership isn’t going to move on the issue, even after advocates turned in enough valid signatures earlier this year to trigger a legislative review of legalization. “I’m fearful that the folks in the statehouse are looking at more of a five-year-and-beyond plan,” the lawmaker said, adding that if Ohio is going to see a policy change enacted in the near future, it will likely come in November if the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol (CTRMLA) ballot campaign is successful.
Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 04/12/2022 10:17:00