Initiative Issue Three, Ohio’s version of Washington’s Initiative 502, was defeated earlier this month by a two to one majority vote. This came after an October poll from Kent State University that found 58 percent of registered Ohio voters were in favor of legalizing marijuana.

The initiative, similar to that of Washington and Colorado’s, would have allowed adults 21 and older to use, purchase and grow their own personal marijuana.

Despite the majority, Issue Three wasn’t passed because of a hidden clause inside Issue 3 was  that voters refused to approve.

If marijuana had been legalized under Issue Three, a small group of investors called ReponsibleOhio would have held exclusive rights for the entirety of the state’s marijuana cultivation.

With only one party having the rights to cultivate, an oligopoly would have formed and opportunities for small businesses to spring up and grow would become null.

The New York Times reported that ResponsibleOhio consisted of 10 wealthy backers who were the main proponents of the campaign. They poured nearly $25 million into the funding of Issue Three.

The outcome shows that voters are willing to wait for marijuana legalization if it means avoiding an oligopoly. Until then, it’s back to the drawing board in Ohio.

Because of Ohio’s national significance in elections and polling, many thought that legalization of marijuana in that state would pave the way for the nation to follow suit. Only time will tell if that is true.

Until then, 2016 will prove a pivotal year for marijuana prohibition as the nation will carefully be watching California, Nevada, Arizona, Maine and Massachusetts as they all vote for similar initiatives.