Today, GOP members of the Ohio House of Representatives introduced a competing measure in response to the Senate’s recently passed Senate Bill 56, which would roll-back much of the voter-approved marijuana legalization law.
The House version maintains certain restrictions but is notably less severe, including maintain current home grow limits. It was officially introduced today at a press conference led by House Finance Chair Brian Stewart (R).
Ohio voters legalized marijuana in 2023, with the law allowing those 21 and older to possess 2.5 ounces of marijuana and 15 grams of concentrate, in addition to allowing them to grow up to six cannabis plants. Licensed dispensaries are authorized to distribute marijuana and marijuana products.
The Senate’s bill, which has drawn significant backlash, reduces home cultivation to six plants per household and caps THC levels in adult-use products. The House bill, while still restrictive, maintains the 12-plant household limit and existing possession levels. However, it lowers the maximum THC concentration in extracts from 90% to 70%.
Unlike the Senate bill, the House version does not impose a per-package milligram cap on THC, allowing greater flexibility in product formulations. The Senate’s proposed limit of 100mg per package and 10mg per serving does not appear in the House’s bill. Smoking restrictions also differ between the two versions. The Senate’s bill would prohibit public smoking, including on private property outdoors. The House bill, however, appears to allow consumption in certain outdoor areas, such as porches and patios.
Both chambers agree on limiting the number of dispensaries to 350 and restricting marijuana advertising, particularly packaging designed to appeal to children.
Additionally, the House bill addresses delta-8 THC, which Governor Mike DeWine has called “intoxicating hemp.” While currently legal for purchase at convenience stores, the bill sets new restrictions: delta-8 products must contain no more than 0.03% THC but are further limited to two milligrams per package and 0.05% per serving.
The House proposal also significantly alters marijuana tax revenue allocation. Instead of distributing funds to specific programs, all revenue would go into a marijuana receipts fund managed by the state treasurer. Eventually, the funds would be transferred into the state’s general revenue fund.
