Last night, Ohio voters rejected the proposal to legalize marijuana for medical, and recreational use.

An expensive campaign, legal fighting over the ballot wording, and an investigation into the proposal’s petition signatures, all for the failure of the proposed amendment. The measure known as Issue 3 on the ballot would have allowed adults 21 and older to use, purchase or grow certain amounts of marijuana. The constitutional amendment would have established a regulatory and taxation system while creating a network of 10 growing facilities. That feature was a target of opponents as well as a separate ballot question in order to prevent monopolies from being inserted into Ohio’s constitution for the economic benefits of a few.

Pro-legalization committee’s like ResponsibleOhio spent millions on their campaign advertisements, all to no avail. Their opponents in the campaign war consisted of farmers, business organizations, and children’s hospitals who saw a bigger picture of economic monopoly used for personal gain.

Seems pretty harsh huh? But here’s the catch, what they don’t expand on in this article are the facts that go hand in hand with this new law imposed. Sure it legalizes marijuana across the boards, BUT under strict code that is only beneficial of wealthy investors and in favor of big companies monopolizing the system.

Turnout was small in lieu of the more captivating presidential elections currently going on, but still got enough attention to be voted out. Maybe next year Ohio won’t just be “for lovers”, but also for weed lovers, and not just ones who are out there to corrupt the business. After all, every state deserves to allow their residents the option to purchase marijuana for their health benefits, and that shouldn’t be limited based on political loopholes. It suppresses individuals’ rights and freedom that is supposed to come with being an American. Responsible Ohio residents, as opposed to ResponsibleOhio, wants fairness, not another big corporate America scheme. We’re all for legalization, but under the right terms and conditions. Let’s make a new ballot…What’s your vote?