Coalition nears enough signatures to force Ohio lawmakers to act on recreational marijuana

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WKRC) – A new effort could force Ohio lawmakers to act on legalizing recreational marijuana. Right now, a coalition is making a strong push to get enough signatures by the end of the year.

The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol is gaining momentum. Spokesperson Tom Haren said it's the right time to legalize recreational cannabis in Ohio.

“I think lot of people recognize an inevitability. I don't know anybody who doesn't think that legalization is not inevitable,” he said.

The coalition is proposing to make marijuana legal for adults, just like alcohol.

“Meaning that nobody under the age of 21 would be permitted to buy marijuana, but if you are older than 21, you could buy up to 2.5 ounces or up to 15 grams of marijuana in an extract form,” Haren said.

It includes a 10% sales tax that would fund several initiatives, like social equity.

“Also, about a third of those tax proceeds would go towards fighting opiate and substance abuse,” said Haren.

Haren said their proposal can go straight to Ohio lawmakers through the initiated statute process. First, it has to gather 133,000 signatures.

“Then, we submit those to the state. They vet those signatures, assuming they are valid. Our proposed initiated statute goes before the general assembly, goes before the legislature, and we are proposing to codify it in the revised code as opposed to the Ohio Constitution.”

Haren said the coalition is on schedule to hit its mark before the end of the year. He's confident and believes this is a nonpartisan issue.

"We had a Democratic-sponsor bill that was introduced over the summer. We have two Republicans in the House that have stated their intent to introduce a Republican-led bill,” he said.

If the coalition gets 133,000 signatures, the Ohio Legislature has four months to act on the proposal. If it fails, the group has an opportunity to gather more signatures put the proposal before Ohio voters next November.