COLUMBUS — The Ohio House of Representatives has approved the conference report for Senate Bill 56, a comprehensive update to Ohio’s marijuana laws that preserves voter-approved adult-use cannabis while adding new safety regulations and restrictions on intoxicating hemp products.
State Representative Brian Stewart (R-Ashville), who served on the conference committee, said the legislation strikes a balance between respecting Issue 2 — passed by voters in 2023 — and ensuring safeguards for families and communities.
“For many years now, the Ohio General Assembly has debated what our public policy should be towards marijuana, intoxicating hemp products, and the emergence of THC-infused beverages,” Stewart said. “Today we get to strengthen Ohio’s economy, protect Ohio’s children, support our local governments, and respect the individual liberties of our fellow citizens.”
State Rep. Tex Fischer (R-Boardman) also praised the final bill for retaining key House provisions addressing THC beverages, adding that more work remains to create long-term standards for the emerging market.
Key Changes in Senate Bill 56
The bill clarifies and updates Ohio’s marijuana laws across several major areas:
Legal & Regulatory Updates
- Allows individuals previously convicted of possessing now-legal amounts of marijuana to seek expungement.
- Combines medical and adult-use marijuana regulations into one section of state law.
- Maintains a 10% excise tax on adult-use cannabis.
- Clarifies that personal-use marijuana is permitted on residential parcels, not only inside homes.
- Eliminates the Cannabis Social Equity and Jobs Program.
- Maintains home-grow rights but prohibits cultivation in halfway houses, recovery centers, and childcare facilities.
- Grants the Division of Cannabis Control authority to regulate cannabis from cultivation to sale without imposing unnecessary burdens on businesses.
Revenue for Host Communities
The bill dedicates 36% of marijuana excise tax revenue, permanently, to communities that host dispensaries through the Host Community Cannabis Fund.
Public Safety & Child Protections
Senate Bill 56 adds several measures to safeguard children and improve safety:
- Prohibits public smoking and being publicly intoxicated by marijuana.
- Bans packaging or advertising that appeals to children or mimics child-friendly products.
- Requires cannabis advertising to remain at least 500 feet from schools and churches.
- Clarifies OVI laws related to marijuana use, including bans on passengers smoking in vehicles.
- Sets THC potency caps at 70% for extracts and keeps the 35% limit for plant material.
- Confirms employers may continue to enforce workplace drug policies, including prohibitions on marijuana use.
Intoxicating Hemp & THC Beverages
The bill aligns Ohio law with recent federal changes restricting intoxicating hemp products:
- Prohibits intoxicating cannabinoids outside licensed marijuana dispensaries.
- Creates a 13-month transition period—running until December 31, 2026—allowing drinkable cannabinoid products (DCPs) to be sold at grocery stores, bars, restaurants, and other retailers with appropriate liquor permits.
- Allows drinks to contain up to 5 mg of THC per serving, with required THC labeling.
Next Steps
Senate Bill 56 will return to the Ohio Senate for final approval of the conference report. If adopted, the bill will head to the Governor for consideration.
