That just says that they didn’t have enough public support for it to pass it like every other state has with a direct vote.

I seriously doubt that. Pretty much every state is polling showing strong support for pot being legal. Do you think blue Illinois, with both blue executive and legislative branches, wasn’t just going to do it beacuse thats a goal of the dems?

Besides, even if the people didn’t like it, they can also petition the criminalize again too and then that goes to a referendum.