Ohio lawmakers cannot ignore the will of the people much longer. Gov. Mike DeWine was right this week to ask them to stop dragging their feet on implementing rules for legalized recreational marijuana, which voters approved more than three months ago.

“What we don’t want to do is see a big black market expand in the state of Ohio with absolutely no control when people don’t know what they’re buying. So again, we need the Legislature to take action …” said DeWine, according to a report by WKRC-TV.

Ohio House Bill 86 would allow recreational marijuana to be sold, and it would increase the sales tax rate for it to 15%. But it is stuck in the General Assembly.

As WKRC’s report notes, the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control has also proposed new rules to allow medical marijuana dispensaries to apply for dual-use licenses. That way, they could sell recreational marijuana, too.

One can understand there may be some lawmakers who opposed the ballot measure.

It doesn’t matter. Their job now is to enact what the voters of Ohio said they wanted. Ohio’s Senate understood its job and passed its version of a bill in December.

But for members of the House, it seems the concept is a little tougher.

In mid-February, Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens, R-Kitts Hill, told reporters “It’s a complex issue.”

Perhaps, but not nearly as complex as to warrant stalling to keep Ohioans from getting what they voted for.

Again, it doesn’t matter whether the lawmakers in the House agree with what voters decided. It wasn’t up to them. DeWine is correct that their petulance could end up being dangerous. It’s time for lawmakers to get over their perceived defeat and fulfill their responsibility to Buckeye State residents.

editorial@vindy.com