Ohio House Advances Regulations on Hemp Products and Tweaks Marijuana Framework
10/24/2025
In a decisive move, the Ohio House of Representatives has approved a comprehensive bill that imposes strict controls on intoxicating hemp products while introducing targeted adjustments to the state's recreational marijuana framework. The legislation, known as Senate Bill 56, seeks to balance public safety, industry growth, and consumer access amid evolving cannabis markets.
At its core, the bill targets hemp-derived items with elevated THC levels, classifying them as intoxicating if they exceed 0.5 milligrams of delta-9 THC per serving or 2 milligrams per package. Sales of these products will be confined to licensed hemp dispensaries, available only to adults aged 21 and older. New mandates include rigorous testing protocols, standardized packaging to deter youth appeal, and advertising restrictions. A 10% sales tax will fund enforcement and related programs.
THC-infused beverages receive nuanced treatment: bars and restaurants may offer servings up to 5 milligrams for on-site consumption, while retail outlets can sell up to 10 milligrams for off-site purchase. Oversight falls to the Division of Marijuana Control for most hemp goods and the Division of Liquor Control for drinks. To manage proliferation, the state caps active dispensaries at 400, with provisions to grandfather existing operators who derive at least 80% of revenue from hemp.
Complementing these hemp rules, the bill refines aspects of Ohio's adult-use marijuana program, established through voter-approved measures. It lowers the maximum THC concentration in extracts from 90% to 70% and caps flower potency at 35%, aiming to curb overconsumption risks. Dispensary numbers will also be limited, and smoking will be banned in most public venues, preserving home cultivation limits at six plants per individual or 12 per household. Revenue sharing remains intact, directing 36% of sales to host municipalities and townships. A key equity provision eases expungement of low-level marijuana convictions, requiring applications rather than automatic processes, to aid reintegration into society.
The measure passed the House with strong bipartisan backing, securing 86 votes in favor against just eight opposed. Supporters, including Rep. Brian Stewart and House Speaker Matt Huffman, hailed it as a response to industry pleas for marijuana-like regulation, emphasizing child protection and a business-friendly environment for responsible adults. Critics, such as Rep. Jennifer Gross, decried potential conflicts with federal hemp guidelines under the 2018 Farm Bill, warning of economic fallout for local producers and inconsistent rules that could shutter convenience store sales of high-THC edibles while permitting beverages.
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At its core, the bill targets hemp-derived items with elevated THC levels, classifying them as intoxicating if they exceed 0.5 milligrams of delta-9 THC per serving or 2 milligrams per package. Sales of these products will be confined to licensed hemp dispensaries, available only to adults aged 21 and older. New mandates include rigorous testing protocols, standardized packaging to deter youth appeal, and advertising restrictions. A 10% sales tax will fund enforcement and related programs.
THC-infused beverages receive nuanced treatment: bars and restaurants may offer servings up to 5 milligrams for on-site consumption, while retail outlets can sell up to 10 milligrams for off-site purchase. Oversight falls to the Division of Marijuana Control for most hemp goods and the Division of Liquor Control for drinks. To manage proliferation, the state caps active dispensaries at 400, with provisions to grandfather existing operators who derive at least 80% of revenue from hemp.
Complementing these hemp rules, the bill refines aspects of Ohio's adult-use marijuana program, established through voter-approved measures. It lowers the maximum THC concentration in extracts from 90% to 70% and caps flower potency at 35%, aiming to curb overconsumption risks. Dispensary numbers will also be limited, and smoking will be banned in most public venues, preserving home cultivation limits at six plants per individual or 12 per household. Revenue sharing remains intact, directing 36% of sales to host municipalities and townships. A key equity provision eases expungement of low-level marijuana convictions, requiring applications rather than automatic processes, to aid reintegration into society.
The measure passed the House with strong bipartisan backing, securing 86 votes in favor against just eight opposed. Supporters, including Rep. Brian Stewart and House Speaker Matt Huffman, hailed it as a response to industry pleas for marijuana-like regulation, emphasizing child protection and a business-friendly environment for responsible adults. Critics, such as Rep. Jennifer Gross, decried potential conflicts with federal hemp guidelines under the 2018 Farm Bill, warning of economic fallout for local producers and inconsistent rules that could shutter convenience store sales of high-THC edibles while permitting beverages.
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