SB 56 Ohio Senate · 136th Legislature (2025-2026)

Revise medical and adult-use marijuana laws; levy marijuana taxes

Summary

To amend sections 121.04, 121.08, 519.21, 928.03, 3376.07, 3780.01, 3780.06, 3780.08, 3780.10, 3780.11, 3780.31, 3796.01, 3796.02, 3796.03, 3796.032, 3796.05, 3796.06, 3796.061, 3796.07, 3796.09, 3796.10, 3796.11, 3796.12, 3796.13, 3796.14, 3796.15, 3796.16, 3796.17, 3796.18, 3796.19, 3796.20, 3796.21, 3796.22, 3796.24, 3796.27, 3796.28, 3796.29, 3796.30, 4729.80, 4735.18, 4743.09, 4776.01, 5502.01, 5502.13, 5502.14, 5713.30, 5739.21, and 5739.99; to enact sections 3796.04, 3796.062, 3796.221, 3796.32, 3796.33, 3796.99, and 5739.27; and to repeal sections 3780.02, 3780.03, 3780.04, 3780.05, 3780.07, 3780.09, 3780.12, 3780.13, 3780.14, 3780.15, 3780.16, 3780.17, 3780.18, 3780.19, 3780.20, 3780.21, 3780.22, 3780.23, 3780.24, 3780.25, 3780.26, 3780.27, 3780.28, 3780.29, 3780.30, 3780.32, 3780.33, 3780.34, 3780.35, 3780.36, 3780.90, 3780.99, and 3796.021 of the Revised Code to consolidate the administration of the marijuana control program, revise the medical and adult-use marijuana laws, and to levy taxes on marijuana.

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Dec 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Oct 2025

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Jan 28, 2025 Signed Mar 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed by the House → As Enrolled · 7 edits · Mar 20, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was amended to significantly modernize Ohio's cannabis and hemp laws, updating the list of affected statutes to include new chapters and correcting section numbers. It reorganizes the Department of Commerce by creating a new 'Division of Marijuana Cannabis Control' and clarifies definitions to distinguish between industrial hemp and regulated hemp-derived cannabinoid products based on THC concentration and synthetic origins.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include new chapters (121, 3719, 4729, 4776) and updated existing references to reflect the current legislative structure, ensuring the law applies to the correct administrative divisions and statutory sections.

SCOPE

Updated the list of amended sections to include new chapters (121, 3719, 4729, 4776) and corrected section numbers, ensuring the bill targets the correct statutes.

REQUIREMENT

Created a new 'Division of Marijuana Cannabis Control' within the Department of Commerce to oversee the superintendent of marijuana and cannabis control.

Changed THC limits for hemp from a delta-9 specific limit to a 'total tetrahydrocannabinols' limit, including tetrahydrocannabinolic acid and synthetics.

DEFINITION

Redefined 'Hemp' to exclude specific synthetic cannabinoids and intermediate products, while adding 'Industrial Hemp' as a distinct category for non-cannabinoid uses like fiber and grain.

Introduced new definitions for 'Hemp-derived cannabinoid product' (intermediate/final products for human/animal use) and 'Intermediate hemp-derived cannabinoid product' (products not yet in final form).

Added a specific definition for 'Container' to clarify packaging rules for retail sales of hemp products.

Removed the previous definition of 'Hemp product' which included non-cannabinoid items like cloth and fuel, separating them into the new 'Industrial Hemp' category.

As Introduced → As Passed by the Senate · 8 edits · Feb 26, 2025

MODERATE

This bill significantly restructures Ohio's cannabis laws by merging the medical and adult-use programs into a single regulatory framework under Chapter 3780. It introduces new definitions for various operators, establishes a 10% tax on adult-use sales, and creates specific funds to support social equity, host communities, and addiction treatment. Additionally, the bill adds a new section prohibiting municipalities from levying taxes similar to those on cannabis, and it creates a new expungement process for low-level cannabis possession convictions.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of the cannabis program by integrating the medical and adult-use systems and explicitly prohibiting municipalities from imposing taxes that mimic state cannabis taxes.

SCOPE

Added a new section (715.013) that prohibits municipal corporations from levying taxes similar to those imposed on cannabis products.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a new section (9.79) establishing a uniform process for licensing authorities to consider criminal convictions when issuing professional licenses, including specific time limits for disqualification based on the nature of the offense.

Added a new section (2953.321) allowing individuals convicted of low-level cannabis possession prior to the bill's effective date to expunge their criminal records.

FISCAL

Created four new state funds to receive revenue from the adult-use tax: the Adult Use Tax Fund, Cannabis Social Equity and Jobs Fund, Host Community Cannabis Fund, and Substance Abuse and Addiction Fund.

DEFINITION

Consolidated and updated definitions in Section 3780.01 to align the medical and adult-use programs, creating new categories for 'Adult Use Cannabis Operators' and clarifying terms like 'Disqualifying Offense'.

REQUIREMENT

Added Section 3780.22, which imposes a 10% tax on the sale of adult-use cannabis by licensed dispensaries.

Added Section 3780.23, which details the distribution of tax revenue to specific funds and outlines the transfer schedule.

TECHNICAL

Removed references to the repealed Chapter 3796 (medical marijuana only) and replaced them with references to the new consolidated Chapter 3780 throughout the text.

Floor votes · Senate Dec 9, 2025 · House Oct 22, 2025

How they voted

22–7

Passed

Total votes 29

Dec 9, 2025

D Democratic7

7 Nay

100% Nay

R Republican22

22 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Dec 23, 2025

Vetoed

Line item veto receipt

upper

Dec 10, 2025

Legislature · Passed

Sent To The Governor

legislature

Dec 9, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (22-7)

senate

Dec 9, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference report agreed to

upper

Nov 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference report agreed to

lower

Oct 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

Insist on amendments; asks for committee of conference

lower

Oct 29, 2025

Amended

Refused to concur in House amendments

upper

Oct 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

Oct 21, 2025

Committee

Reported - Re-referred to Finance

lower

Oct 21, 2025

Committee

Reported - Substitute - Re-referred to Rules and Reference

lower

Mar 5, 2025

Committee

Referred to committee

lower

Mar 3, 2025

Introduced

lower

Feb 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

Jan 29, 2025

Committee

Referred to committee

upper

Jan 28, 2025

Introduced

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors