Overview
- The House passed SB 56 on a 52–34 vote after late conference talks fizzled and the Senate adjourned, with leaders pointing to an if-needed Dec. 10 session for further action.
- The measure would move most intoxicating hemp sales into licensed dispensaries, permit 5‑milligram THC beverages only through 2026, and end sales in gas stations, bars and grocery stores beginning January 2027.
- Federal law signed last week redefines hemp and applies strict THC limits with a one‑year phase‑in, increasing pressure on Ohio to enact its own rules before November 2026.
- Marijuana provisions cap THC at 35% for flower and 70% for extracts, restrict public smoking, retain the 10% tax, keep home grow unchanged, and direct 36% of revenue to communities with dispensaries.
- House negotiators criticized last‑minute Senate language as unconstitutional and prone to recriminalization, while Senate President Rob McColley emphasized child safety; Gov. Mike DeWine’s October emergency order remains halted by a Franklin County court.