Ohio cannabis advocates are seeking a statewide referendum to stop Senate Bill 56, arguing the new marijuana law contradicts the will of Ohio voters.
Ohio Cannabis Advocates Push Referendum to Block Senate Bill 56
Columbus, Ohio – Ohio cannabis advocacy groups are moving to block a newly passed marijuana law by taking it directly to voters through a statewide referendum.
On Friday afternoon, Ohioans for Cannabis Choice announced plans to challenge Senate Bill 56, a measure signed into law the same day that significantly alters Ohio’s recreational cannabis framework. The group argues the legislation contradicts the will of Ohio voters, who approved recreational marijuana use in 2023 with 57% support.
Senate Bill 56 introduces stricter penalties for certain cannabis-related activities, including transporting marijuana outside a vehicle’s trunk and consuming cannabis in public spaces. The law applies to all forms of cannabis, including edibles that were previously legal to use in public. It also creates new regulatory standards for intoxicating hemp, which falls outside Ohio’s legal definition of marijuana and is sold outside licensed dispensaries.
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Dennis Willard, a spokesperson for Ohioans for Cannabis Choice, said the organization is launching the referendum to prevent the law from taking effect as scheduled in March.
According to state law, the group must collect 250,000 valid signatures from registered Ohio voters before the legislation’s effective date. The process begins with an initial petition requiring at least 1,000 verified signatures, which must be approved by the Ohio Secretary of State. After approval, organizers must gather an additional 248,092 signatures, representing 6% of turnout in the last gubernatorial election. The campaign must also meet county-level requirements in at least 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties.
Governor Mike DeWine issued a line-item veto removing a provision that would have permitted the sale of THC-infused beverages—an intoxicating hemp product. At the federal level, products containing 0.4 milligrams of THC or more were banned in November. The veto eliminated protections that would have allowed such products to remain legal in Ohio through 2026.
DeWine has consistently advocated for tighter regulation of intoxicating hemp, citing concerns that minimal oversight makes these products easily accessible to minors.
Industry leaders warn the law could have major economic consequences. Advocates say intoxicating hemp has been legal in Ohio since 2018 and supports thousands of jobs. Michael Tindall, executive director of the Ohio Healthy Alternatives Association, estimates the state could lose more than 20,000 jobs, 5,000 businesses, and up to $1 billion in economic activity if the law moves forward.
The referendum campaign has a 90-day window to complete the petition process. If approved, Senate Bill 56 would be paused until Ohio voters can decide its future in a statewide election.
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