Referendum Effort Fails, Ohio Hemp Ban Takes Effect

An effort to block Ohio’s new law banning intoxicating hemp products and changing parts of the state’s recreational marijuana law has fallen short.

Ohioans for Cannabis Choice announced it did not gather enough signatures to place a referendum on the November 3 ballot. The group needed 248,092 valid signatures statewide, along with meeting county by county requirements in at least 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties.

In a statement, spokesman Dennis Willard said the group was unable to overcome the shortened time frame needed to give voters a chance to weigh in on the issue.

The deadline to submit signatures was Thursday, the day before Senate Bill 56 was set to take effect. That law bans intoxicating hemp products in Ohio, including THC infused beverages.

Attorney General Dave Yost had initially rejected the proposed referendum language in January, but later approved it in early February after revisions were made.

Governor Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 56 into law in December after pushing lawmakers for action on intoxicating hemp products for nearly 2 years.

The law also makes several changes to Ohio’s recreational marijuana system. It reduces the allowable THC level in adult use marijuana extracts from 90 percent to 70 percent, caps THC in adult use flower at 35 percent, and bans smoking in most public places.

In addition, the law prohibits possessing marijuana outside its original packaging, makes it illegal to bring legal marijuana purchased in another state back into Ohio, and requires drivers to store marijuana in the trunk while driving.

Willard said the new law will re criminalize marijuana in Ohio, hurt businesses, cost jobs, and limit access to products consumers have been able to buy legally.

Ohio voters approved marijuana legalization in 2023, and recreational sales began in August 2024. According to the report, marijuana sales in Ohio topped 836 million dollars in 2025.

Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman of Lima said he was not surprised the referendum effort failed. He said the issue divided different parts of the cannabis industry and likely was not financially viable as a referendum campaign.

Referendums remain rare in Ohio. The last successful one came in 2011, when voters overturned an anti collective bargaining law.