Columbus, Ohio - In November 2023, Ohio voters overwhelmingly passed a citizen-led initiative to legalize marijuana in Ohio. Since then, Republicans have been hell bent on ignoring the will of the voters. Last week, they dropped their latest proposal, gutting the law voters passed and instead prioritizing extreme politicians in the legislature.

Ohioans passed a law specifically stating how marijuana would be regulated, taxed, and distributed. Instead of allowing the law the voters passed to work as it was intended, Republican lawmakers instead proposed their own amendments to double the tax on marijuana sold to consumers, restrict home grow, and cap the number of active dispensaries.

Republicans didn’t stop there. They proposed redirecting the extra revenue from their new tax on Ohio consumers towards a general fund, where they decide how to use it. The law voters passed funded substance abuse services and job creation. 

“House Speaker Matt Huffman said that these were ‘very complex’ issues. But it’s clear statehouse Republicans just think they know better than Ohio voters,” said Ohio Democratic Party spokeswoman Katie Seewer. “This isn’t the first time Republicans have turned around and ignored the will of the voters. Ohioans have come to expect constant tricks from the statehouse, and they’re sick of it.”