State Rep. Weinstein Issues Statement over Rejected Adult-Use Cannabis Petition Initiative

COLUMBUS—State Rep. Casey Weinstein (D-Hudson) issued a statement today in response to the announcement that the petition initiative to legalize cannabis in Ohio will not appear on the ballot this November.

“Decriminalization efforts are happening across the state, and Ohio is ready for legalization statewide. By ignoring that fact, Republican leadership is only showing Ohio that they are afraid of the voters and how they will turn out for this issue,” said Rep. Weinstein. “I will now be refocusing my efforts back to getting hearings for HB 382 to make sure that we are still giving a voice to the hundreds of thousands of Ohioans who signed that petition initiative and expect action.”

Reps. Weinstein and Upchurch (D-Cleveland) filed language to formally introduce the petition initiative to the General Assembly on April 20th.  HB 382—the first legislative effort to legalize cannabis in Ohio—was introduced in the House Finance Committee last summer.