Ohio House Bill 56: Regulating Marijuana and Hemp Products (PASSED>Sen.)

The Fostoria Free Press | Published: November 20, 2025

Current Status: Passed the Ohio House of Representatives on November 20, 2025; now moving to the Senate for consideration.

Ohio House Bill 56 (introduced as a companion to elements of Senate Bill 56) addresses the rapidly growing market for intoxicating hemp-derived products and makes targeted changes to the state’s recreational marijuana program.

Key Provisions:

• Prohibits the sale of intoxicating hemp products (e.g., delta-8 THC, delta-10 THC gummies and vapes) in unregulated retail outlets such as gas stations and convenience stores.
• Mandates that these products can only be sold in licensed adult-use marijuana dispensaries.
• Applies the same strict testing, labeling, packaging, and potency standards to intoxicating hemp items as those for recreational marijuana.
• Adjusts Ohio’s voter-approved Issue 2 (2023 recreational marijuana legalization), including revisions to tax revenue distribution (potentially redirecting funds) and expanded bans on public marijuana consumption.

The legislation aims to protect consumers, particularly minors, from unregulated and potentially unsafe products while integrating hemp-derived intoxicants into the regulated cannabis framework. Debate continues over whether it respects voter intent from Issue 2.