The Ohio House of Representatives has approved Substitute Senate Bill 56, a measure designed to address both cannabis and hemp regulation in the state. The bill passed following votes in the House Judiciary and Finance Committees and was announced by State Representative Jamie Callender (R-Concord). Originally passed by the Ohio Senate in February, the legislation results from about 18 months of negotiations among lawmakers, industry stakeholders, and advocates.
A key aspect of the bill addresses a loophole created by the 2018 Farm Bill, which allowed certain psychoactive hemp products such as delta-8 and delta-10 THC to be sold without restrictions. Senate Bill 56 restricts sales of these intoxicating hemp products to licensed dispensaries, mandates age verification for purchases, and applies existing testing, marketing, and labeling requirements used for adult use cannabis. The legislation also sets limits on hemp beverages: bars and tap houses with specific liquor permits may sell drinks containing up to 5mg of THC for consumption on site, while liquor stores can sell beverages with up to 10mg THC for off-premises use. All hemp products are limited to customers aged 21 or older.
In addition to changes affecting hemp products, the bill clarifies regulations around adult use, home cultivation, and medical cannabis in Ohio. After Issue 2 passed in 2023 with a 57% margin, adult use and home-grown cannabis became part of Ohio’s existing medical marijuana framework. Since legal sales began in August 2024, adult use cannabis sales have reached $871 million as reported by the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control.
Other provisions allow medical cannabis patients to receive home delivery of their prescriptions. Property owners who permit cannabis use on their premises receive certain protections under the new law. The bill also clarifies where residents may grow cannabis at home and establishes rights for individuals to share home-grown or adult-use cannabis on private property.
Senate Bill 56 maintains that 36% of state cannabis tax revenue will continue to go to communities hosting dispensaries—a feature known as the Host Community Fund—rather than reducing or eliminating this allocation as proposed in earlier drafts.
No new criminal penalties are introduced for those engaging with legal forms of cannabis under this legislation.
“I want to thank the tens of thousands of Ohioans who reached out to their legislators or took the time to come to Columbus and provide testimony as the legislative process played out,” said Callender. “While not a perfect bill, Senate Bill 56 enshrines important legislative victories for adult use users and takes the first steps in creating a regulatory framework around intoxicating hemp.”
The bill now awaits a concurrence vote by the Ohio Senate.
