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Understanding Ohio's SB 56: Impacts on the Cannabis Programs

For years, Ohio’s medical cannabis community has advocated for safety, transparency, and reliable access. In December 2025, the passage of Senate Bill 56 (SB 56) introduced a wave of changes that significantly alter both the recreational and hemp markets. While the bill is largely aimed at adult-use (recreational) consumers, its ripple effects—from potency caps to the crackdown on hemp-derived THC—matter deeply for patients who rely on consistent medicine.


Ohio Statehouse setting with a document labeled SB 56 on a table. Text: "The future of Ohio’s cannabis programs." Gavel and Ohio flag visible.

Here is what you need to know about the new law as it heads to Governor DeWine's desk for signature. 

1. Potency Caps: A Narrower Therapeutic Window?

One of the most immediate changes in SB 56 is the reduction of maximum THC levels for adult-use products.


  • Extracts and Concentrates: Capped at 70% THC, down from the previous 90%.

  • Flower: Remains limited to a maximum of 35% THC.


The Patient Perspective: While these caps are technically directed at the adult-use market, the consolidation of medical and adult-use regulations under a single framework means patients may see a decrease in the availability of high-potency concentrates that were previously staples for managing chronic pain or severe symptoms.


2. The End of "Gas Station" Hemp THC

SB 56 effectively closes the "hemp loophole" by reclassifying intoxicating hemp products—like Delta-8, Delta-10, and synthesized Delta-9—as "marijuana". Any hemp product exceeding 0.4 mg of total THC per container is now prohibited for sale outside of licensed 21+ dispensaries.


  • THC Beverages: A temporary exception allows bars and breweries to sell beverages with up to 5 mg of THC per serving until December 31, 2026, mirroring recent federal moves.

  • Safety for Patients: This is a double-edged sword. It removes unregulated, untested "gray market" products from shelves, ensuring everything in Ohio meets rigorous lab-testing standards. However, it may reduce access to low-cost alternatives for patients who supplemented their medical regimen with hemp-derived products.


3. Daily Limits and Transportation Traps

While medical patients still operate under a 45-day supply system (roughly 4.5 ounces of flower over 45 days), SB 56 adds strict new rules for everyone on how that medicine is carried.


  • Strict Packaging Rules: It is now a minor misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $150, to possess marijuana in anything other than its original, unopened packaging.

  • The "Trunk" Rule: When transporting medicine in a car, it must be stored in the trunk. If the vehicle has no trunk, it must be behind the last upright seat.

  • Out-of-State Ban: SB 56 criminalizes bringing legally purchased cannabis from other states (like Michigan) back into Ohio.


4. Protections and Public Use Rollbacks

The new bill rolls back several voter-approved protections and introduces new penalties.


  • Public Use: Consuming cannabis (including edibles) in any public place is strictly prohibited and carries a fine. No public space can accommodate medical use by smoking or vaporization.

  • Housing & Employment: Landlords can now explicitly ban vaping (not just smoking) in lease agreements. Employers also retain the right to fire workers for cannabis use, even for medical patients, as the bill repeals certain workplace protections.

  • Home Grow Penalties: While the limit remains at six plants per person (12 per residence), SB 56 adds felony penalties for exceeding these amounts.


The Bottom Line

SB 56 marks a shift toward a more restricted, highly regulated environment in Ohio. For medical patients, the priority remains the same: maintain your status with the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program to ensure tax-exempt status, priority dispensary access, and a more robust supply allotment that avoids the daily transaction caps of the recreational market.










 
 
 

Green Harvest Health

6400 Emerald Parkway #3004

Dublin, OH 43016

614-636-5003

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