On Tuesday, when Ohio's pot legalization initiative failed to pass, some marijuana legalization advocates lost the moral high ground in the debate to end marijuana prohibition.

For years now, the legalization side has positioned the arguments around themes of social justice and patient access. Legalization has to happen, the argument went, because black folks are four times more likely to be busted for weed. Being busted for weed meant a litany of harms, including searches, tickets, fines, arrests, incarceration and the loss of job, housing and educational opportunities. Prohibition meant moms with epileptic kids were risking felonies or considering emigrating for cannabis oil and veterans with PTSD and cancer and AIDS and MS patients would suffer.

Stephen Colbert thinks John Kasich seems "reasonable," but apparently not in his stance on marijuana.

Colbert hosted Kasich, the Ohio governor, on Friday's episode of the "Late Show."

Issue 3, the ResponsibleOhio marijuana legalization initiative, was trounced at the polls Tuesday, losing by a 2-to-1 margin despite polling that showed a competitive race and a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign that went largely unanswered.

The defeat came even as voters, both in Ohio and nationwide, voice their support for pot legalization. Last month, a Quinnipiac poll had Ohio support for generic legalization at 53 percent, while a Gallup poll had national support for legalization at 58 percent.

Wednesday morning ushered in a new chapter in the battle over legalizing pot.

Legal weed may not be a reality in Ohio just yet, but the national prospects for legalization are bright

Voters rejected a state constitutional amendment that would have meant only 10 companies could operate legally in the state.

Legal marijuana entrepreneurs are upbeat that Ohio voters rejected a ballot proposal on Tuesday that would have legalized the sale of medical and recreational cannabis.

Advocates eye 2016 after voters decisively rejected Issue 3 which would have handed control of a legal cannabis industry to a small group of millionaires

Marijuana legalization advocates in Ohio are turning their attention to 2016, after voters on Tuesday rejected a constitutional amendment to legalize recreational use in the Buckeye State – a measure critics said would have enshrined an oligopoly in the state constitution.

Issue 3, as the proposal was known to Ohioans, lost in a landslide at the ballot box Tuesday, an embarrassing defeat for backers of the campaign, who poured over $20m into the race. About 65% of Ohians opposed the initiative, and 35% voted in favor.

Legal pot has become "a sport for the wealthy."

Marijuana Oligopoly Rejected by Ohio Voters

Ohio voters have rejected a controversial marijuana legalization initiative that would have restricted commercial marijuana production to the ten properties owned by the principal investors in the initiative.