COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Ohio attorney general said Tuesday that he has rejected the wording on a petition seeking to have voters decide in November whether to legalize recreational marijuana in the state.
Attorney General Dave Yost said the summary language on the petition fails to include “findings and declarations” that are listed in the proposed constitutional amendment.
Messages were left Tuesday with Donald McTigue, the Columbus attorney who submitted the petition language for “An Amendment to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol.”
Backers can resubmit revised petition language after gathering another 1,000 signatures. The deadline for getting a constitutional amendment on the November ballot is July 1.
The amendment seeks to allow anyone 21 or older to buy, possess and consume limited amounts of marijuana and to grow up to six plants.
The Ohio Legislature approved the sale of medical marijuana in 2016. The state’s first dispensaries opened in January 2019.
Recreational marijuana for adults is currently legal in 11 states.
Voters in 2015 handily defeated a ballot issue to legalize marijuana in the state, though some opposition involved concern over exclusive rights that would have been given to initial growing sites under that proposal.