Ohio Senate Bill 56 Approved and Heads to Governor Mike DeWine’s Desk to be Signed into Law

On December 9, 2025, the Ohio Senate offered their final approval on Senate Bill 56 (SB 56) (1). The bill will be heading to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s desk for his signature.

Once SB 56 is signed into law, the bill will criminalize cannabis products that have been purchased from out-of-state, this will also consist of products that were legally acquired at licensed dispensaries. According to NORML (1), “No other legalization state imposes such restrictions.”

Additionally (2), “It also repeals provisions that currently protect adult-use consumers from facing either workplace or professional disciplinary action, as well as other forms of discrimination based solely upon their private marijuana use. It imposes new arbitrary limits on the percentages of THC permitted in adult-use and medical cannabis concentrates and it caps the total number of retail licenses permitted statewide.”

Senate Bill 56 (3) would limit the sale of some hemp-derived products so that they can only be purchased from state-licensed dispensaries, establish a path for individuals who are interested in expunging prior cannabis-related convictions, specify that adults can consume cannabis legally within their private property, as well as redirect a portion of tax revenues stemming from cannabis transactions that would go to individual municipalities that license cannabis retailers (2).

In The Columbus Dispatch, NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano and Political Director Morgan Fox expressed that (1,4), “Legislators do not have the right to play Monday morning quarterback simply because most Ohioans voted in a way they disapprove.” NORML’s action alert opposing SB 56 was shared with lawmakers over 24,000 times. It states: “This bill is a slap in the face to the millions of Ohioans who voted in favor of Issue 2. Once again, politicians are arrogantly trying to claim that the public didn’t know what they were voting for.”

“Can anybody in this room tell me how this is respecting the will of the voters?” Ohio Senator Bill DeMora asked his peers prior to the vote in the Senate (1), “This body has done everything in its power to give Ohio voters the finger.”

“In a healthy democracy, those with competing visions on public policy vie for voters’ support and abide by their voting decisions. However, it is becoming clear that those who oppose marijuana policy reform would rather take voters out of the equation altogether,” Armentano commented (1). “Whether or not one personally supports or opposes cannabis legalization, these undemocratic tactics ought to cause of deep concern.”

“It restricts consumers who home-cultivate cannabis from harvesting more than 2.5 ounces of total flower, and it imposes felony penalties for those who grow more than six plants at one time. It imposes new arbitrary limits on the percentages of THC permitted in adult-use and medical cannabis products and it caps the total number of retail licenses permitted statewide,” NORML reported (2). “Other provisions in the legislation create an expedited pathway for those seeking to expunge past marijuana-related convictions, regulate the sale of certain hemp-derived products, and redirect a portion of tax revenues from marijuana sales to individual municipalities that license cannabis retailers.”

Ohio’s voter-approved cannabis legalization law was approved by 57% of state voters in 2023 (2).

Prior to the bill heading to the legislative conference committee, Ohio Senate President Rob McColley expressed that, “I think it’s abundantly clear we need a regulatory structure around hemp and intoxicating hemp products.” McColley added (2), “We have some issues to work out, but I’m confident we can work those issues out.”

References

1. Norml. Ohio lawmakers approve repealing key provisions of Legalization https://norml.org/blog/2025/12/09/ohio-lawmakers-advance-bill-to-governors-desk-repealing-key-provisions-of-voter-approved-marijuana-legalization-law/ (accessed Dec 11, 2025).
2. Colli, M. Senate bill 56 advances to Senate from Ohio Legislative Conference Committee https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/senate-bill-56-advances-to-senate-from-ohio-legislative-conference-committee (accessed Dec 11, 2025).
3. Senate Bill 56 https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/sb56 (accessed Dec 11, 2025).
4. Fox, M.; Armentano, P. Marijuana in Ohio: Cynical lawmakers trying to steal away rights you approved.: Opinion https://www.dispatch.com/story/opinion/columns/guest/2025/02/05/marijuana-ohio-a-under-threat/78178663007/ (accessed Dec 11, 2025).