Democratic and Libertarian Candidates for Ohio Governor Would Keep Voter-Approved Cannabis Law Intact 

The Democrat and Libertarian candidates in Ohio’s governor’s race have indicated that, if elected, they would keep the state’s voter-approved adult-use cannabis law intact, Cleveland.com reports. Amy Acton, the Democratic nominee, and Don Kissick, the Libertarian, both said they would keep the reforms in place, including the 10% cannabis tax, and backed maintaining some form of legal access to intoxicating hemp products. The Republican nominee, Vivek Ramaswamy, did not respond to the questionnaire from the news outlets regarding his policy positions on the cannabis and hemp laws. 

Addie Bullock, Acton’s campaign spokeswoman, in a statement told Cleveland.com that the Democrat would “respect the clear will of the voters and ensure that Ohio adults 21 and older can safely make their own decisions” and would be “vigilant about legislative attempts to recriminalize elements of recreational marijuana use that Ohioans voted for on Issue 2.”  

Kissick told Cleveland.com that “Ohio voters made their decision in 2023, and the government should respect that decision rather than repeatedly searching for ways to override it.” He added that he would seek to change state law to allow cannabis impaired driving convictions only if prosecutors prove drivers were actually impaired, rather than allowing convictions based solely on THC levels in blood or urine tests. The Libertarian indicated he would also consider lowering the 10% tax “once the state’s legitimate administrative and regulatory costs are covered.” 

Kissick also said he backed an age limit of 21 for intoxicating hemp products, marketing rules for the products, and “reasonable serving and package limits.” 

While Ramaswamy did not respond to the questionnaire, in a 2023 statement to FOX News, Ramaswamy indicated support for ending the federal prohibition of cannabis; however, he also voted against adult-use legalization in Ohio, saying on CNN that it was “an abandonment of the rule of law” and “creates a lot of confusion.”  

According to the Cook Political Report, the race is a toss-up between Acton and Ramaswamy.