If approved by Ohio voters, the ballot issue would legalize the commercial growth of marijuana at 10 pre-selected sites owned by wealthy investors, and growth in very small quantities by individuals at home.
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While falling short in overall signatures, ResponsibleOhio did succeed in clearing a different hurdle – gathering enough signatures to equal at least 5 percent of the total cast for governor previous year in 44 counties. In some areas that goal is being exceeded.
Husted released the tally from 88 boards of elections showing the group had 276,082 valid signatures statewide. ResponsibleOhio needs 305,591 signatures to qualify. The group has until July 30 to fill that gap. Hamilton County had a 33.74% validity rate.
If the Ohio campaign falls short of the signature requirement, they will still have one last chance to gather the remaining signatures. Petitioners have ten additional days to make up the difference.
The group, Responsible Ohio, which was in charge of circulating the petition, vowed that the initiative would’ve brought high-paying jobs to the state. That is completely uncertain at this time.
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Opponents of ResponsibleOhio call its plan a monopoly, although the correct economic term is oligopoly.
