Not only did Issue 3’s pot legalization measure get shot down but voters also passed Issue 2, which was created to counter 3 if it passed.
Statehouse correspondent Andy Chow reports.
Issue 2 creates anti-monopoly laws and puts up more hurdles for any group hoping to gain an economic benefit through the Ohio constitution.
Legislators crafted this issue in order to trump Issue 3 if it passed. But leaders, such as Secretary of State Jon Husted, say the benefits of Issue 2 go beyond the latest marijuana legalization effort.
“The constitution should not be used to give a handful of people special rights to carve out their own interests. It’s supposed to be there to protect the individual rights of Ohioans,” said Husted.
For now on, if a panel of lawmakers believes a citizen’s initiative creates a monopoly, then that measure will be split into two issues on the ballot. The first issue would be to suspend the monopoly ban and the second vote would be on the proposal itself.
