Ohio House Passes Revised SB56 Hemp, Marijuana Bill

The Ohio House passed a revised Senate Bill 56 to create a regulatory scheme for intoxicating hemp and tighten rules for recreational marijuana after Gov. Mike DeWine issued an executive order banning intoxicating hemp (later temporarily blocked) following a rise in child poisonings. The bill would limit sales of delta‑8 and similar hemp products to licensed hemp dispensaries with safety testing, advertising and packaging rules, application and permit fees, a likely 400‑retailer cap and pathways to grandfather some existing sellers, and would legalize low‑dose THC beverages for bars and stores. It caps THC potency at 35% for flower and 70% for extracts, bans public smoking or vaping of marijuana, preserves a six‑plant per‑person home‑grow limit, bars possession of out‑of‑state marijuana, and imposes a 2.5‑ounce possession threshold that can trigger felony penalties. The House language also removes statutory protections that had prevented employers from disciplining workers for lawful off‑duty cannabis use and allows expungement of low‑level convictions. The measure directs about 36% of marijuana tax revenue to municipalities that host dispensaries, but Senate leaders say key differences — including revenue distribution — will likely send the bill to a conference committee. Businesses and hemp‑industry groups warn the House changes could disrupt retail markets and force disposal or costly compliance for products now on shelves, while supporters say the bill would make the governor’s temporary ban unnecessary if enacted.