Ohio SB 56 – Recreational Marijuana Signed into Law

Governor Mike DeWine has signed Ohio Senate Bill 56 (SB 56), while vetoing a provision of the bill that would allow the retail of THC beverages. SB 56 reforms some of the adult-use recreational marijuana programs and regulates other intoxicating hemp products.

The veto comes in response to Congressionally enacted requirements in H.R. 5371, which enacted a federal ban on intoxicating hemp beginning November 2026. This ban includes a ban on THC beverages containing intoxicating hemp. Governor DeWine asserted that continuing sales of intoxicating hemp beverages for the remainder of the year will create confusion for consumers and a lack of conformity with federal law.

Marijuana Tax Structure: The final bill maintains the current 10% adult-use marijuana tax rate, eliminates the voter-approved Cannabis Social Equity and Jobs Fund, allocates 36% of revenue from excise tax to the Host Community Cannabis Fund for local communities, and uses tax revenue to creates an expungement system for Ohioans who were convicted of low-level marijuana possession charges before Ohio passed legal possession. All remaining tax revenue will go to the general revenue fund.

Marijuana Provisions: The final bill criminalizes the possession of recreational marijuana bought outside of Ohio, and bars packaging targeted at children. Maximum THC levels in adult-use marijuana extracts are reduced from a maximum of 90% down to a maximum of 70%; and caps THC levels in adult-use flower to 35%. It also limits the number of active marijuana dispensaries and prohibits smoking in most public places. Left unchanged, however, are the number of home-grown plants that a person can possess, remaining at the original 6-plant limit per person, or 12 plants per residence.

Additional information including the line-item veto boxed text is below: