Advertisement
Advertise with us
sidenav

Ohio Voters Say Yes to Recreational Weed; Will Be 24th Legal State

Advertisement
Advertise with us

Voters in Ohio have overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure legalizing recreational marijuana use, possession and sales to adults 21 and over. Votes for the ballot initiative, called Issue 2, were outpacing votes against by 57-43 percent as of this morning, with less than two percent of ballots left to count.

The ballot measure was opposed by Governor Mike DeWine, the state Chamber of Commerce, state prosecutors, and most Republicans in the General Assembly. That opposition could make Ohio voters’ wishes a moot point. Under Ohio state law, a citizen-led initiative, if passed, goes next to the state legislature, where it could be tweaked or even repealed by the Republican-controlled body. Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman has said that repeal is a possibility.

If state legislators do not repeal the measure, possession and homegrow will become legal Dec. 7, and Ohio will become the 24th state with legal recreational marijuana. The state has had a legal medical cannabis program since 2016. Ohio is the seventh most-populous state in the country, with nearly 12 million residents.

The ballot measure includes these components, according to Marijuana Moment:

  • Legalizes possession of up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis flower and up to 15 grams of concentrates per adult
  • Allows homegrowing of up to six plants per adult, with a maximum of 12 plants per household
  • Creates a 10 percent retail tax on recreational cannabis sales (in addition to the state’s existing 5.75 percent sales tax and local sales taxes)
  • Establishes a Division of Cannabis Control under the Ohio Department of Commerce that will have authority to “license, regulate, investigate, and penalize adult use cannabis operators, adult use testing laboratories, and individuals required to be licensed”

The ballot measure also creates specific deadlines for the state to issue cultivation and retail sales permits, and gives existing medical marijuana businesses the opportunity to be first in line for recreational licenses. It could take nearly a year or longer before all elements of the legal market are in place.

The measure does not provide for automatic expungements of criminal convictions for offenses that will now become legal activities.

Advertisement
Advertise with us
Latest Reviews
Article preview image
Freemax REXA PRO & REXA SMART Review: Too Smart?

The Freemax REXA PRO and REXA SMART are highly advanced pod vapes, offering seemingly endless features, beautiful touchscreens, and new DUOMAX pods.

Wed Jul 30 2025
Article preview image
OXVA XLIM Pro 2 DNA Review: A Match Made in Heaven!

The OXVA XLIM Pro 2 DNA is powered by a custom-made Evolv DNA chipset, offering a Replay function and dry hit protection. Read our review to find out more.

Fri Jul 18 2025
Article preview image
SKE Bar Review: A Reusable Crystal Bar!

The SKE Bar is a 2 mL replaceable pod vape with a 500 mAh battery, a 1.2-ohm mesh coil, and 35 flavors to choose from in 2% nicotine.

Mon Jul 7 2025
Advertisement
Advertise with us
Latest Learn
vaping taxes
Vaping Taxes in the United States and Around the World

Because of declining cigarette sales, state governments in the U.S. and countries around the world are looking to vapor products as a new source of tax revenue.

Thu Jul 31 2025
How Old Do You Have to Be to Vape?
How Old Do You Have to Be to Vape?

The legal age to buy e-cigarettes and other vaping products varies around the world. The United States recently changed the legal minimum sales age to 21.

Tue Jul 1 2025
Where vaping is banned or restricted
Vape Bans: E-Cigarette Restrictions in the U.S. and Worldwide

A list of vaping product flavor bans and online sales bans in the United States, and sales and possession bans in other countries.

Fri Jul 4 2025
About Authors
Jim McDonald
846 posts

Smokers created vaping for themselves without help from the tobacco industry or anti-tobacco crusaders, and I believe vapers and the vaping industry have the right to continue innovating to give everyone who wants to use nicotine access to safe and attractive non-combustible options. My goal is to provide clear, honest information about vaping and the challenges nicotine consumers face from lawmakers, regulators, and brokers of disinformation. You can find me on Twitter @whycherrywhy

See author’s profile
Vaping360.com strives to be the world's most trusted resource for vapers and smokers. We take pride in our editorial integrity, accuracy, and the honesty of our writers.
Read more about us

Rely on Our Expertise

At Vaping360, we take pride in our deep expertise and years of experience in the vaping industry. Our dedicated team of professionals is committed to leveraging their extensive knowledge to meet your needs and exceed your expectations.

Authenticity

Genuine insights backed by thorough and exhaustive research and testing.

Reliability

Consistent, accurate information from the vaping industry experts.

Empowerment

Transparent and reliable content for confident and informed decision-making.

About us

Our mission is clear: to help people who smoke transition to low-risk alternatives and contribute to a smoke-free world. With each article we publish and each review we conduct, we're working towards this goal.

about-us-banner
product preview