Ohioans voted on Aug. 8 to reject Issue 1, a constitutional amendment that would have raised the threshold for all amendments proposed to the state constitution from a 50% majority approval to a 60% threshold for approval. With a resounding voter turnout compared to previous elections, the Issue failed, with 57% voting “No”. 

We believe that the rejection of Issue 1 on the August ballot was crucial for the future of democracy in Ohio. The results demonstrate that Ohioans care about their voice in democracy, and is a positive sign for the November General Election. 

On Nov. 7 Ohioans will vote on a different Issue 1, the possibility of securing reproductive rights in the state. 

Voting “yes” on the Nov. Issue 1 would amend the Ohio constitution to protect an affirmative right to abortion, contraception, miscarriage care and fertility treatment. Also on the ballot is Issue 2, which would legalize and tax the adult use of cannabis.

The Beachcomber staff hopes that Ohio voters will support both Issues 1 and 2 on Nov. 7.

Reproductive Rights

We believe in the protection of reproductive rights. The debate regarding abortion must consider the life of the child as well as the parents. Parenting is challenging, and subjecting unwilling people to it will have negative consequences for women and families, such as being unable to care for themselves and their children and achieve their educational goals.. 

Moreover, on average, there are 463,634 victims of rape in the United States every year. Thus, removing the bodily autonomy of sexual assault victims can only worsen their recovery process. 

There are a plethora of disparities prevalent in the abortion debate. As a result of the Dobbs ruling in June of 2022, low income women are expected to be impacted the most severely. According to the National Library of Medicine, about ¾ of abortions are sought out by low-income women as the New England Journal of Medicine reports that women with low incomes are more than five times as likely to report an unintended pregnancy. 

 Additionally, women of low economic status already face financial obstacles to obtaining contraception, especially without insurance.  According to Planned Parenthood, IUDs (intrauterine devices)  and implants are the most effective forms of contraception. However, without insurance, the cost of an IUD can range from $500-$1300.

Legalization of Marijuanna 

We advocate for the legalization of marijuana as a means of minimizing the disproportionate impacts of the War on Drugs, which has negatively impacted minority communities since the 1970s.  According to the Brookings Institution, Black people are 3.6 times more likely to be arrested for selling drugs, even though white people are more likely to sell drugs.

In The New Jim Crow, Michele Alexander argues that the War on Drugs has become the latest tool for restricting the rights of minorities.

“90% of those admitted to prison for drug offenses in many states were Black or Latino, yet the mass incarceration of communities of color was explained in race-neutral terms, an adaptation to the needs and demands of the current political climate,” she wrote.

 Furthermore, opponents of marijuana’s legalization often argue that minors’ access to the drug would increase drastically, and would be dangerous for Ohio’s youth. However, realistically, minors in Ohio are already smoking weed either obtaining it from other states, older friends, or fraudulent medical cards. If acquired illegally, marijuana could be laced with other drugs such as fentanyl, which could result in long term health effects and even death. 

If opponents’ true intention is to protect the youth, then they are on the wrong side of this issue. It’s important to regulate and decriminalize marijuana so Ohio adults can have a safe, reliable and lawful source to get their recreational substances–not to mention the boost it will give Ohio’s economy.