COLUMBUS, Ohio — A group seeking to legalize marijuana possession and cultivation in Ohio has failed to gather enough valid signatures to put the issue in front of state lawmakers, Secretary of State Frank LaRose told the group in a letter Monday.
Coalition to Legalize Marijuana Like Alcohol needed nearly 133,000 valid signatures but fell 13,062 short, cleveland.com reported.
Group spokesperson Tom Haren said he is confident that the needed signatures will be collected before a Jan. 14 deadline.
Should the petition drive ultimately succeed, Ohio lawmakers will have four months to decide whether to take up the issue. If they don’t act, the group can get the issue on a statewide ballot by gathering an additional 133,000 valid signatures.
The petition seeks to allow adults 21 and older to buy and possess 2.5 ounces (71 grams) of marijuana and grow up to six plants per person, 12 plants per household.
Ohio legalized medical marijuana in 2016 with dispensaries opening in early 2019.
Rep. Jamie Callender, a Republican from Lake County, introduced a legalization bill in October that calls for a 10% tax on marijuana sales, a provision included in the group’s petitions. Callender has acknowledged that Republican leaders don’t support his bill.
