Ohio moves to restrict hemp THC and criminalize out-of-state marijuana

Cannabis legally purchased out of state – or carried in a Ziploc bag – will be illegal in Ohio if recent changes to the state’s adult-use marijuana framework are signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine.

Senate Bill 56, which the state Senate approved on a 22-7 party-line vote on Tuesday, also limits hemp-derived THC to state-licensed marijuana stores and imposes new restrictions on THC beverages, according to the Ohio Capital Journal.

The bill is both a response to the hemp THC situation, including the ban signed into law by President Donald Trump, as well as the fruit of a longstanding effort to curb Ohio’s voter-approved 2023 cannabis legalization law.

Under the bill, THC drinks will also be limited to 5 milligrams of THC per container – but are only legal through the end of 2026.

SB 56 also:

Ohio lawmakers have been attempting to rewrite legal marijuana’s rules since the state became the 24th in the U.S. to legalize adult-use cannabis in November 2023.

Cannabis companies have also sued the state, alleging that strict advertising and product-naming regulations, imported from the medical cannabis framework, unfairly burden businesses.

Annual legal cannabis sales in Ohio are on pace to exceed $1 billion, according to Headset data.

But more recently, state authorities have moved to curb the market in intoxicating hemp.

Exclusive industry data and analysis to help you make informed business decisions and avoid costly missteps. All the facts, none of the hype. 

What you will get: 

Ahead of Congress’ move to close the so-called Farm Bill loophole, DeWine issued an Oct. 9 executive order banning hemp THC.

That was blocked by the courts, but should DeWine sign SB56 into law as expected, hemp-derived THC products will be restricted to cannabis stores by March.