Ohio AG Rejects Referendum Petition Challenging New Marijuana Restrictions
01/16/2026
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has rejected a proposed referendum petition seeking to repeal significant portions of Senate Bill 56, the recently enacted legislation that introduces major adjustments to Ohio's recreational marijuana framework and prohibits intoxicating hemp products. Signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine in December 2025, the measure is scheduled to take effect in March 2026.
Senate Bill 56 addresses concerns over unregulated hemp-derived intoxicants while imposing new limits on legal adult-use marijuana. It reduces the allowable THC concentration in extracts and concentrates from 90 percent to 70 percent and sets a 35 percent cap on THC in flower products. The law also forbids public consumption of marijuana in most locations, mandates that individuals possess cannabis only in its original packaging, makes it a criminal offense to transport legally purchased marijuana across state lines into Ohio, and requires drivers to store marijuana products in the vehicle's trunk during transit. Additionally, it bans intoxicating hemp items outside licensed dispensaries, aligning state rules more closely with evolving federal guidelines on hemp.
The referendum initiative, organized by Ohioans for Cannabis Choice, aimed to place the issue before voters in the November 2026 general election. Supporters submitted the petition with an initial set of signatures in late December 2025. Yost reviewed the proposed summary language and found it contained several omissions and inaccuracies that could potentially mislead petition signers regarding the bill's full implications and reach.
These issues included unclear or repeated descriptions of hemp definitions, incorrect statements about delivery rules for adult-use cannabis, misrepresentations of local government authority over licensed operations and taxation, and false claims about repealed prohibitions on promotional items from license holders.
Although the rejection represents a temporary obstacle, the group has indicated plans to revise the summary to address the attorney general's concerns, gather an additional 1,000 signatures as required, and resubmit the petition promptly. If certified, organizers would then need to collect approximately 248,000 valid signatures from voters across at least 44 of Ohio's 88 counties within a tight timeframe before the law's effective date to qualify for the ballot. Success would delay implementation of Senate Bill 56 pending a statewide vote.
Reference
Senate Bill 56 addresses concerns over unregulated hemp-derived intoxicants while imposing new limits on legal adult-use marijuana. It reduces the allowable THC concentration in extracts and concentrates from 90 percent to 70 percent and sets a 35 percent cap on THC in flower products. The law also forbids public consumption of marijuana in most locations, mandates that individuals possess cannabis only in its original packaging, makes it a criminal offense to transport legally purchased marijuana across state lines into Ohio, and requires drivers to store marijuana products in the vehicle's trunk during transit. Additionally, it bans intoxicating hemp items outside licensed dispensaries, aligning state rules more closely with evolving federal guidelines on hemp.
The referendum initiative, organized by Ohioans for Cannabis Choice, aimed to place the issue before voters in the November 2026 general election. Supporters submitted the petition with an initial set of signatures in late December 2025. Yost reviewed the proposed summary language and found it contained several omissions and inaccuracies that could potentially mislead petition signers regarding the bill's full implications and reach.
These issues included unclear or repeated descriptions of hemp definitions, incorrect statements about delivery rules for adult-use cannabis, misrepresentations of local government authority over licensed operations and taxation, and false claims about repealed prohibitions on promotional items from license holders.
Although the rejection represents a temporary obstacle, the group has indicated plans to revise the summary to address the attorney general's concerns, gather an additional 1,000 signatures as required, and resubmit the petition promptly. If certified, organizers would then need to collect approximately 248,000 valid signatures from voters across at least 44 of Ohio's 88 counties within a tight timeframe before the law's effective date to qualify for the ballot. Success would delay implementation of Senate Bill 56 pending a statewide vote.
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