Advocates in Ohio seeking to put a cannabis legalization question to voters in 2024 are 679 signatures short of their goal and now have until August 4 to gather more, the Associated Press reports. Earlier this month, The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol said they had collected more than 220,000 signatures – almost 100,000 more than needed – but a review by Secretary of State Frank LaRose determined they were short.
In a statement, Tom Haren, a coalition spokesperson, said that he was confident the organization could collect the remaining signatures by the deadline.
“It looks like we came up a little short in this first phase, but now we have 10 days to find just 679 voters to sign a supplemental petition – this is going to be easy, because a majority of Ohioans support our proposal to regulate and tax adult use marijuana.” — Haren, in a statement, via the AP
A USA TODAY Network/Suffolk University poll released Wednesday found 58.6% of respondents back adult-use cannabis legalization, with about 35% opposed and 6% undecided, The Columbus Dispatch reports. The issue has support from 77% of Democrats, 63% of independents, and 40% of Republicans.
The ballot measure proposes allowing adults 21-and-older to buy and possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis and to cultivate plants at home. A 10% tax on sales would fund administrative costs, addiction treatment, municipalities that host dispensaries, and social equity and jobs programs.
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