Major Reforms to Hemp Regulation and Public Cannabis Use

Published on October 28, 2025

House Passage Marks Progress in Cannabis Overhaul

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio House of Representatives has approved Senate Bill 56, a comprehensive package of cannabis reforms that tightens regulations on intoxicating hemp products while imposing new limits on public marijuana consumption. Passed on October 22, 2025, by a vote of 63-27, the bill now returns to the Senate for concurrence on amendments, potentially paving the way for Governor Mike DeWine's signature and reshaping Ohio's $2 billion legal cannabis market.

Core Provisions: Hemp Controls and Consumption Restrictions

Senate Bill 56 addresses long-standing gaps in Ohio's cannabis framework, introduced in January 2025 by Sen. Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City) and Rep. Jamie Callender (R-Lake County). Key elements include:

• Hemp Regulation: Restricts sales of intoxicating hemp-derived products (e.g., delta-8 and delta-9 THC gummies, vapes) to licensed dispensaries only, with mandatory age verification, lab testing, and labeling. This closes the "hemp loophole" from the 2018 Farm Bill, which allowed unregulated sales in convenience stores.
• Public Use Ban: Prohibits smoking or vaping marijuana anywhere except private residences, including vehicles and non-smoking hotel rooms. Edibles remain permissible in public but with packaging restrictions.
• THC Caps and Taxes: Lowers the maximum THC in adult-use extracts from 90% to 70%, caps hemp products at 10mg per serving, and imposes a 10% excise tax on intoxicating hemp sales, with revenue directed to substance abuse prevention.
• Other Measures: Bans cannabis-infused beverages, enhances penalties for unlicensed sales, and streamlines licensing for cultivators and processors.

Supporters hail it as a "comprehensive fix" to voter-approved Issue 2 (2023), which legalized adult-use cannabis but left hemp unregulated.

Background: Responding to Market and Health Concerns

The bill emerges from months of negotiations amid a surge in intoxicating hemp products, which generated $500 million in Ohio sales in 2024—often without safety checks. Health officials reported a 150% rise in youth ER visits linked to delta-8 since legalization, prompting DeWine's October 8 emergency ban on non-dispensary sales. SB 56 builds on this by creating a permanent regulatory structure, aligning with FDA and CDC warnings about contamination and mislabeling.

It also refines Issue 2's framework, which has seen $871 million in legal sales since August 2024, but faced criticism for lax public use rules and hemp competition. The measure's hemp focus mirrors national efforts, with 39 state AGs urging Congress to tighten Farm Bill provisions.

Stakeholder Reactions: Support and Pushback

The Ohio Cannabis Industry Association endorses the bill's safety measures but opposes beverage bans, arguing they stifle innovation in a market employing 10,000. Retailers like Circle K, hit by the emergency order, estimate $100 million in losses and seek transition aid. Child safety advocates, including Poison Control, praise the youth protections, with one expert noting, "These products look like candy—regulation saves lives."

Democrats like Rep. Munira Abdullahi (D-Columbus) voted against it, calling restrictions "overreach" that burdens low-income users. Republicans, led by Huffman, defend it as balancing economic growth with public health, projecting $100 million in new tax revenue.

Path Forward and Broader Impact

The Senate, with a GOP majority, is slated to review amendments in November 2025. If passed, the bill could take effect in early 2026, coinciding with recreational rollout delays in 147 municipalities under moratoriums. Nationally, it positions Ohio as a model for hybrid regulation, influencing Farm Bill reauthorization debates.

For businesses, it promises stability but requires compliance investments; for consumers, safer products but fewer public options. As Ohio's market matures, SB 56 exemplifies the tension between liberalization and control.

Conclusion

Senate Bill 56's advancement signals Ohio's commitment to a regulated cannabis ecosystem, prioritizing safety amid explosive growth. Will these reforms foster a thriving industry or impose undue barriers? Sound off in the comments.

Monitor the Ohio Legislature for session updates.

References

1. Ohio House of Representatives, "House Passes Bill Updating Ohio's Marijuana Laws," October 23, 2025. Link
2. Ohio Capital Journal, "Ohio House passes bill regulating intoxicating hemp products, changes state's marijuana laws," October 23, 2025. Link
3. Ohio House of Representatives, "Ohio House Passes Cannabis and Hemp Reform Legislation," October 23, 2025. Link
4. Signal Ohio, "Ohio House passes bill to tax hemp, bans public marijuana use," October 22, 2025. Link
5. Ohio Senate, "Senate Bill 56," 136th General Assembly. Link