Ballot Questions: Marijuana Legalization Fails in Colorado, Nevada; Ohio Passes Comprehensive Smoking Ban

From Join Together:

Drug-reform groups have enjoyed great success in recent years using ballot questions to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes, but failed in their attempt to up the ante in Colorado, where Amendment 44 was defeated by a solid 61-38 percent margin. Voters apparently did not buy supporters' contention that alcohol was a more dangerous drug than pot; the measure would have allowed Colorado adults to legally possess up to one ounce of marijuana.

On the other hand, the trend toward state restrictions on smoking in public places continued to pick up momentum on Election Day. Voters in Ohio, Nevada and Arizona approved comprehensive indoor-smoking bans, and the tougher measures prevailed over competing questions supported by the tobacco and hospitality industries.