Ohio Attorney General Refuses to Certify Marijuana Legalization Law

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost recently rejected a petition submission for a proposed law (initiative petition) that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana in the state.

The Attorney General’s power to review the initiative petitions comes from ORC 3519.01(a), which states in part, “the attorney general shall conduct an examination of the summary. If, in the opinion of the attorney general, the summary is a fair and truthful statement of the proposed law or constitutional amendment, the attorney general shall so certify and then forward the submitted petition to the Ohio ballot board for its approval.”