Legalization of marijuana in Ohio: Voting results on Issue 2 to legalize cannabis

The Buckeye state has become the 24th state to legalize marijuana at the recreational level. This is one of the two major ballot initiatives voters have been asked to vote on during this election season.

State Issue 2: Recreational Marijuana Legalization | Results

The popularity of marijuana legalization grows rapidly

Marijuana legalization is an issue where the states have moved a lot faster than the federal government.

Weed is currently legal for medicinal use in 38 states and legal for recreational use in 23. At the federal level, marijuana is classified as a Schedule 1 Drug, the most severe classification that includes other drugs like heroin and methamphetamine.

Pew Research completed a survey in 2022 that found that “an overwhelming share of U.S. adults (88%) say either that marijuana should be legal for medical and recreational use by adults.” Support for medicinal use stood at nearly sixty percent, with only one in ten respondents saying the drug should be illegal altogether.

In Ohio, a poll conducted by Baldwin Wallace University found widespread support for the ballot measure. “Overall, 57 percent of registered voters support the measure — including two-thirds of Democrats and 59 percent of Independents,” reported NORML, the marijuana legalization advocacy group.