Ohio Attorney General Rejects Cannabis Referendum Language as Misleading

The ruling triggers a procedural reset under Ohio’s referendum rules that require fair and truthful petition summaries.

Overview

Attorney General Dave Yost declined to certify Ohioans for Cannabis Choice’s summary targeting parts of Senate Bill 56, saying omissions and misstatements would mislead potential signers.
Yost cited errors including claims about repealing a ban on gifts or samples, allowing local excise taxes, imposing blanket felony disqualifications, misstating delivery rules, and duplicating hemp definitions.
The petition was filed December 29 and reviewed within the 10-business-day window required by law, resulting in the rejection issued January 13–14.
Organizers said they will revise the summary, gather an additional 1,000 signatures, and resubmit in an effort to qualify for the November ballot.
To reach the November 3, 2026 ballot, the campaign must secure certifications from the attorney general and secretary of state and then collect 248,092 valid signatures, while SB 56 is set to take effect March 20 with bans on intoxicating hemp and new marijuana restrictions.