Voters in the state of Ohio will need to decide on marijuana legalization at the ballot as legislature has stalled.
This is according to a GOP state lawmaker who is cosponsoring a legalization bill.
At an event hosted by Ohio State University last week, Rep. Ron Ferguson (R) expressed disappointment that the Republican-controlled legislature has declined to take action on cannabis reform and instead seems positioned to leave the issue up to voters if activists collect enough signature to qualify their legalization measure for the November ballot.
Ferguson added that he would “like to see us have a legislative solution” and “really get accomplished within the statehouse.”
“I’m fearful that the folks in the statehouse are looking at more of a five-year-and-beyond plan,” the lawmaker said.
He added that if Ohio is going to see a policy change enacted in the near future, it will likely come in November if the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol (CTRMLA) ballot campaign is successful.
“I want to see our legislators be better,” he said to Marijuana Moment when asked about the disconnect between the public and the legislature on marijuana policy. “I think that every bill that we have should get a good, solid, open hearing no matter how good or bad that it is so that, if it’s bad, we can stay away from it. If it’s good, we can embrace it.”
