Ohio votes to legalize recreational marijuana through Issue 2 ballot measure

Ohio voted to legalize recreational marijuana with the passage of the Issue 2 ballot initiative on Tuesday.

Decision Desk called the race in favor of the “yes” vote at 9:12 p.m. EST. As of 9:55 p.m. EST, the “yes” vote led with 56% of the vote.

With the measure’s passage, the sale and purchase of marijuana will be allowed for adults who are 21 years or older, and the drug will be regulated by a new government program. Adults can also use and possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana while a 10% sales tax will be implemented.

Prior to its passage, Ohio Republicans were vehemently opposed to recreational marijuana, and they have used their majorities in both chambers of state legislature to block any related bills from passing.

“There are a lot of people who don’t do something because it’s illegal, believe it or not, and if it’s more accessible to whoever’s going to buy it, it’s going to be more accessible to people who shouldn’t be smoking it,” said Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) last month. “It’s really going to be devastating.”

On Tuesday, the majority of voters broke away from the GOP, and polls prior to Tuesday’s election were suggesting as much as 58.6% of citizens supported the initiative prior to election day. Ohio is now the 24^th state in the United States to legalize recreational marijuana.