The Ohio House of Representatives has passed Senate Bill 56, which updates the state’s marijuana laws and addresses the regulation of intoxicating hemp products. The bill received bipartisan support and preserves the adult-use marijuana provisions approved by voters in Issue 2 in 2023, while introducing new measures aimed at protecting children.
Speaker of the Ohio House Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said, “This bill has undergone a robust, thorough and collaborative legislative process, and I believe we have landed on a good faith compromise between interested parties while reinforcing guardrails for the protection of Ohio’s children. I commend Chairman Stewart, Representative Fischer and Representative Callender for their committed work on this.”
State Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) stated, “Substitute Senate Bill 56 respects and preserves all the core aspects of the Issue 2 initiated statute that Ohioans passed in 2023. At the same time, we’re focusing on public safety by banning, in statute, the manufacture of products that look like fruits or gummy bears that would be attractive to children. And we’re prohibiting advertising that would be targeted to children. We’re making it very clear that selling these products to persons under 21 is illegal. I commend the Speaker, Rep. Fischer, and Rep. Callender for their work on this bill.”
State Rep. Tex Fischer (R-Boardman) added, “After many long months of revisions and negotiations, I voted in support of Substitute Senate Bill 56. I was proud to have worked on several important provisions in this bill regarding hemp regulation. This legislation is a reasonable compromise that protects kids from illicit intoxicating products but still provides an avenue for existing hemp businesses to remain open under regulatory oversight. The broad bipartisan support for this bill shows that we respected the will of the voters regarding Issue 2 and guaranteed that local communities can finally begin to receive the tax revenue they deserve.”
Senate Bill 56 clarifies Ohio’s marijuana laws by eliminating the cannabis social equity and jobs fund and program, allowing expungement for certain marijuana possession convictions, and combining adult use and medicinal use provisions in state law. The bill maintains a 10% tax rate on adult-use marijuana and clarifies that personal use is permitted on residential parcels, not just inside residences. Home-grow allowances remain, but cultivation is prohibited in halfway homes and recovery houses. The Division of Cannabis Control is given authority to regulate marijuana businesses without imposing excessive burdens.
The legislation also directs 36% of marijuana excise tax revenue to the Host Community Cannabis Fund for local communities with dispensaries.
To promote public safety, the bill prohibits public smoking and intoxication, bans packaging and advertising attractive to children, and requires ads to be at least 500 feet from schools and churches. Sales of intoxicating hemp products are limited to licensed dispensaries, and THC potency levels are capped at 70% for extracts and 35% for plant material. Employers retain the right to prohibit marijuana use and take employment actions based on use or possession.
For intoxicating hemp, the bill restricts sales to licensed dispensaries and imposes similar safety and advertising standards as those for marijuana. Existing hemp dispensaries operating as of August 30, 2025, may continue if they meet licensing criteria, while future dispensaries face location restrictions similar to marijuana dispensaries. Non-intoxicating, non-edible hemp products remain legal.
The bill also addresses hemp-infused beverages, allowing their sale at licensed establishments and regulating them similarly to alcoholic beverages. Low-dose beverages with up to 5mg THC can be sold and consumed on premises at bars and restaurants, while higher-dose beverages up to 10mg THC are available for off-premises consumption at other retailers. Beverages exceeding Ohio’s limits can be manufactured for out-of-state sale only.
Senate Bill 56 now returns to the Ohio Senate for a concurrence vote.
