Kasich praises Ohio voters for rejecting marijuana question

“At a time when too many families are being torn apart by drug abuse, Ohioans said no to easy access to drugs and instead chose a path that helps strengthen our families and communities,” Gov. John Kasich wrote in a statement to the Washington Examiner.

The Buckeye State was the only one with a marijuana initiative on the ballot this year, but voters crushed it by a nearly two-to-one margin. Sixty-five percent of voters voted against the measure, while 35 percent were in favor.

Issue 3 was not a standard initiative because it combined medical and recreational language. While nearly half of the states have legalized medical marijuana, language on recreational usage of marijuana is much more difficult to pass in a red state.

Morgan Fox, communications manager of the D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project, argued the initiative failed because the odds were never in its favor from the beginning.

“It was taking place in an off-off-year election that typically has very low turnout and attracts older and more socially conservative voters,” said Fox.

The provision also contained language that would have limited growing licenses to 10 investors, unlike other states that have implemented competitive marketplaces for distributing the substance. Fox said it appears Ohioans ultimately decided the issue in light of the monopoly that the producers would have on the product.

But the loss may not be indicative of where Ohioans or the nation stands on legalizing marijuana. Last month, Gallup reported 58 percent of Americans believe pot should be legalized, a record high in the pollster’s 46 years of tracking the issue.

And a poll by the Akron Buckeye in October found 53 percent of registered voters thought “legalizing use of marijuana” was a “good idea.”

Nevadans will vote on regulating marijuana like alcohol next November. Arizona, California, Maine and Massachusetts have also proposed similar measures for the ballots.