COLUMBUS, Ohio –
At the corner of Broad and High in downtown Columbus, Theresa McGowan signed a petition Monday for a ballot issue that would legalize marijuana in Ohio. "Specifically for medical reasons I really strongly, strongly agree that it needs to happen," McGowman said.

Voters in Ohio support legalization of medical marijuana by a margin of 84-15 percent, according to poll results released Monday by Quinnipiac University. Those same voters also supported allowing adults in Ohio to possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use by a 52 – 44 percent margin.

A group called ResponsibleOhio is leading an effort to amend Ohio’s constitution to legalize marijuana for both medical and personal use. The group is currently gathering signatures for a proposed ballot amendment. If enough signatures are collected, the issue will be on the November 2015 ballot.

Asked about the 52 percent support for personal use, ResponsibleOhio spokeswoman Lydia Bollander said, "I’m very happy where we’re at right now."

But Jon Allison, a longtime political strategist and a spokesman for the Drug Free Action Alliance, believes the the issue of recreational use could be the undoing of ResponsibleOhio’s proposal. "I’ve been involved in statewide ballot issues many many times before and if I were on their side I would want to be in the high 60s or 70s," Allison said. "If 54 percent is their high water mark with their campaign – that just keeps getting ratcheted down. I think they’re in trouble."

Ohio lawmakers have introduced one medical marijuana proposal so far this session – a bill that would legalize cannabis for use in the treatment of certain seizure disorders.

Rep. Andrew Brenner, a Powell Republican, believes it’s time for lawmakers to act. "I think the legislature, we should take something in a proactive stance that most Ohioans agree on and that would be something like medical marijuana that’s tightly regulated." Brenner said.

The Quinnipiac poll surveyed 1077 Ohio voters from March 17 – 28.

The Quinnipiac Poll also surveyed voters in two other swing states, Florida and Pennsylvania. Support for medical marijuana is 84-14 percent in Florida and 88-10 percent in Pennsylvania. Support for limited personal use is 55-42 percent in Florida and 51-45 percent in Pennsylvania. :horns up :hookah: