Columbus, OH – PRESS RELEASE – The Ohio Ballot Board certified the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol’s initiated statute language as a single issue Aug. 30. The certification means that CRMLA can begin the process of collecting the more than 130,000 signatures required to present the proposed legislation to Ohio legislators.

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“We’re happy with today’s outcome and believe the ballot board made the right call on this one,” said spokesman Tom Haren. “We look forward to beginning the signature collection process and working with our state legislators to create a safe, legal, and highly regulated cannabis market in Ohio.”

After collecting more than 130,000 signatures to formally send the initiative to the Ohio General Assembly, the legislature will have four months to consider the proposed legislation. Should they opt not to pass the bill as is, the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol can collect an additional 130,000 signatures to present the issue to Ohio voters on the November 2022 ballot.

Haren also noted that the legislature can act now: “Ohioans overwhelmingly support cannabis legalization, and we’re ready to work with legislators to end prohibition today.”