COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio House leaders announced plans Thursday for a comprehensive review of medical marijuana, while disclosing that backers of an effort to purge old pot-related convictions are withdrawing their proposal from legislative consideration.

State lawmakers have been weighing how to address medical marijuana after Ohio voters overwhelmingly rejected a ballot initiative in November that sought to legalize pot for medical and recreational use. The measure, Issue 3, would have established 10 sites with exclusive authority to grow marijuana, and with profits going to the issue’s deep-pocketed investors.

While the ballot initiative faced resounding defeat, polls suggested Ohioans support medical marijuana.

Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger told reporters Thursday that debate over the initiative prompted interest in medical marijuana. He said it was with that in mind that he was convening a task force of members from the Ohio House, business organizations, law enforcement and medical associations to...