Ohio Advocates Announce Campaign to Undo Recent Hemp and Cannabis Reforms

Advocates in Ohio are planning a citizen referendum to roll back the
sweeping cannabis and hemp reforms recently signed into law by Republican Gov.
Mike DeWine, Cleveland.com reports. Dennis Willard, a spokesperson
for Ohioans for Cannabis Choice, which is leading the effort, told
Cleveland.com that the hemp and cannabis reform legislation “forcefully
defies the will of the voters of Ohio” who legalized cannabis for adult use
in 2023.

“We are launching a referendum campaign to go directly to the voters. We
believe voters will say no to government overreach, no to closing 6,000
small businesses and pink-slipping thousands of workers across the state,
and no to once again recriminalizing hemp and marijuana.” — Willard to
Cleveland.com

Ohioans for Cannabis Choice must first file with Secretary of State Frank
LaRose at least 1,000 valid signatures from registered Ohio voters to begin
the process. Those signatures must be verified by LaRose’s office, which
will then certify the
petition. Petitioners must then gather enough signatures to qualify for the
ballot – a total equal to 6% of the votes cast in the most recent
gubernatorial election, or about 250,000 signatures, which must come from
at least 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties.

The bill targeted by the campaign outlaws all intoxicating hemp products in
the state and criminalizes the possession of adult-use cannabis products
obtained out of state. It is set to take effect in March, 90 days after it
was signed into law by DeWine.