Buckeye buzz is officially on the rise as Ohioans green-lit Issue 2, giving the thumbs up to recreational ganja. The word was out by The Associated Press, who called the high stakes on Issue 2 just past half-past nine Tuesday night.
With the votes nearly all tallied up by early Wednesday, the pro-pot policy was blazing ahead with 56.79% of the vote – that’s a solid 2.144 million out of roughly 3.8 million voters sparking up support in the polls. These numbers are just chilling in the prelim zone until the provisional ballots are counted and the final score gets the official seal.
This move is set to roll out the green carpet, giving the nod to growing, crafting, testing, and dealing Mary Jane to Ohioans who’ve cruised past 21. It’s also lighting up the home cultivation scene, allowing personal plant parenting with a cap of six per person and a dozen per household. And when it’s time to hit the dispensary, there’s a 10% tax tacked on to each sale, man.
“Reefer madness? Nah, it’s all chill now,” says Tom Haren, the main voice for the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol.
“The people of Ohio have cranked up the volume,” he said. “They’ve made it crystal. They’re craving a legit, adult-use market right here in our backyard, keen to snuff out the shady deals, and eager to reroute those tax dollars from Michigan highways back into Ohio’s hometowns, investing it right back into the community vibe.”
So, roll out your best papers, Ohio. It’s time to celebrate the new high life.