November 7 Election Alert-Statewide Ballot Issue Results

While there were no statewide candidate elections on the ballot yesterday, there were two hot button, controversial issues before Ohioans: reproductive rights and legalization of recreational marijuana.

ISSUE 1

Ohioans voted 56.62% to 43.38% to enshrine in Ohio’s constitution the right to an abortion. The constitutional amendment adopted by voters establishes the state right to “make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions” and to allow the state to restrict abortion after fetal viability, except when “necessary to protect the pregnant patient’s life or health.”

Ohio is the only state with an abortion issue on the ballot this year. However, six other states decided on reproductive rights last year, and many states are looking at Ohio ahead of the 2024 election as they are expected to have abortion issues on the presidential ballot.

ISSUE 2

Ohio voters decided by a 56.97% to 43.03% margin to make Ohio the 24th state to legalize recreational marijuana. The initiated statute passed legalizes, regulates and taxes marijuana in a way similar to alcohol. Issue 2 allows Ohioans aged 21 and older to possess 2.5 ounces of marijuana in any form except extract and 15 grams of extract. Also, Ohioans can grow up to six plants individually and no more than 12 in a household with multiple adults. Marijuana products will be taxed 10% on top of Ohio's 5.75% sales tax. The new law goes into effect on December 7, 2023.

This isn’t the first time legalization of marijuana was on the ballot. Ohio voters previously rejected a ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana in 2015. Issue 3 in 2015 was backed by ResponsibleOhio, a group of investors who would have exclusive rights to cultivate marijuana and limited the cultivation sites to 10 properties in Ohio.