Ohio voters will decide on two significant statewide issues: abortion rights and marijuana legalization this month. Voters who registered to vote before October 10 Have started to take on the issues as early in-person voting started on Wednesday, October 11. The elections will continue up to November 5 at each county’s board of elections.
Abortion Rights
Ohio's Issue 1 is about abortion rights. If passed, it would establish an individual's right to their own reproductive medical treatment, including abortion. After Congress voted to end the nationwide right to abortion, In the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization 2022 Case, in which the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade 1973 (guaranteed a constitutional right to abortion).
Now Ohioans take on personally to voting stations from October 11 to November 5 to Determine their Rights.
Marijuana Legalization
The second issue that people will vote on is regarding the legalization of Marijuana like alcohol. Dults aged 21 or more are allowed to to buy and possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis flower and 15 grams of extract and households with more than one adult would be permitted to grow a total of 12 plants. If passed, Ohio would become the 24th state to legalize cannabis for adult use. Marijuana is legal in 23 states, and adult-use cannabis is also legal in the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Public’s Opinion Regarding the Issues
According to Pew Research Center the percentage of the views of the adults who took part in the survey “Views about abortion among adults in Ohio” are as follows.
The survey shows that the opinions of the participants are quite similar with the Pro-Choice and pro-abortion populations being slightly overhead, 48% are pro-choice (meaning that they support the individual right to abortion) and 47% against abortion (Also considered Pro-life), with 4% having no views on the situation.
In another survey, they compared the religion of the participants to see if religion affects the decision of the people regarding abortion, as follows.
As you can see Legal abortion is more popular among non-religious and mainline Protestants with more people supporting it.
On the other hand, Evangelical Protestant and Catholic participants seem to be against abortion.
In general, it seems that there is a slight tilt toward the right for abortion in Ohio according to polls.
The second issue that is Marijuana appears to be likely to pass according to Forbs’s article that studied research conducted by FM3 Research: Out of the 843 participants who were likely to vote, 55% said they “definitely” or “probably” would vote yes on the initiative, while about 34 percent “definitely” or “probably” would oppose it. Only about 11 percent were undecided. Also in a separate poll provided by Fallon Research, the results are as follows.
59% of registered voters surveyed support the ballot measure, while less than a third (32%) said they would vote against the initiative.
So it seems that Ohio will be the Next state with Legal Marijuana for adults.
The Situation in Ohio Before This Election
Abortion
An Ohio state law that went into effect in July 2019 makes abortion illegal after embryonic cardiac activity can be detected, which usually develops between five or six weeks after conception. No exceptions are made for "hard cases" such as rape, incest, or a fetus determined to have Down syndrome possibly.
The current voting will allow individuals to decide for themselves if they want to abort or not.
Marijuana
Ohio was the sixth state to decriminalize Cannabis in 1975 and as of now Under Ohio law, the possession of up to 100 grams of marijuana is a "minor misdemeanor" which carries a maximum fine of $150. Possession of more than 100 grams but less than 200 grams of marijuana is a misdemeanor punishable by up to thirty days in jail and a $250 fine.
The legalization of marijuana was previously brought up in 2015 which resulted in a failure and the issue did not pass, the amendment was defeated 64% to 36%.
Medical marijuana became legal in Ohio in September 2016 and operational two years later. However, there are restrictions on the medical conditions to be eligible to purchase marijuana in Ohio.
Tom Heren, an attorney and spokesman for the coalition to regulate marijuana like Alcohol, which is backing the issue on the November 7 ballot said on Salem News:
“Ohioans have seen the success of our medical marijuana program, but they’ve also seen too many people unable to get access for conditions that don’t qualify.”
Plus, it is estimated that the sales of marijuana ( which will be taxed at 10%) will generate between $276.2 million to $403.6 million in annual cannabis tax dollars by the fifth year of sales according to Forbes.
Conclusion
The November 5 election in Ohio holds substantial significance as it could reshape state policies, and impact individuals' rights and the economy. A favorable vote on abortion rights (Issue 1) could reinforce personal freedoms, while a positive vote on marijuana legalization (Issue 2) could stimulate economic growth through a new legal cannabis industry.
Beyond Ohio, other states are watching closely. The decision on abortion rights could either affect movements in states with ongoing debates on reproductive rights, especially in the wake of recent changes in federal judiciary stances. Similarly, a green light for marijuana legalization might accelerate the nationwide momentum toward more liberal cannabis policies, encouraging other states to consider legalization.
