Voters in Ohio have rejected a proposal on Tuesday that would have made the state the first in the Midwest. to legalize the consumption of marijuana for recreational use, Reuters reported.
The proposal, referred to as Issue 3, would have allowed anyone older than 21 to consume or possess marijuana for medical or recreational purposes if they so wish, but Issue 3 was defeated by a margin of two-to-one.
The voter's rejection of the proposal marked the end of a controversial campaign during which opponents of the proposal spent millions of dollars to promote their cause, according to Wtae.
The wording of the ballot was contentious and it kindled legal tussles, while the signatures collected in order to initiate the poll were also being investigated.
Voters reportedly didn't like how the growers of marijuana ganged up in cartel-like groupings, spending money to run ads that dwelt more on the economic and business side of legalizing marijuana without addressing the moral implications of such a move.
"I'm totally against it," said Dan Coen, one of the voters who voted against the proposal. "I think it's not good for the people. They try to make it for the economy, but marijuana leads to other problems and addictions and we have enough problems with addictions within our country now that I don't think it's a good idea."
While four States in the U.S. have already legalized recreational marijuana, and 23 allow it for medical use, Ohio's case would have been the first instance where marijuana would have been legalized purely for business purposes, reported USA Today.
Although Ohio has a huge number of college students and a liberal middle class - both demographics that would be friendly to recreational marijuana use - many rejected the proposal as it was hinged so solidly on the profits and business side of legalizing marijuana.
