Ohio AG Rejects Cannabis Referendum Challenging Senate Bill 56

14 January 2026

Ohio’s effort to recalibrate its marijuana laws is facing renewed resistance from cannabis advocates, though not yet at the ballot box. Attorney General Dave Yost has rejected an initial referendum petition aimed at overturning parts of Senate Bill 56, a sweeping law that tightens rules around recreational marijuana and sharply restricts intoxicating hemp products.

The referendum was submitted by Ohioans for Cannabis Choice, a group formed in response to the legislature’s changes to the voter-approved cannabis framework adopted in 2023. Under Ohio law, referendum organizers must first submit at least 1,000 valid signatures along with a summary of the law they seek to repeal. That summary must be certified by the attorney general and the secretary of state before broader signature collection can begin.

In a letter to the campaign, Yost said the summary failed that test. He pointed to multiple issues, including what he described as inaccurate descriptions of hemp definitions, licensing rules, delivery of adult-use cannabis, and the role of local governments. According to Yost, taken together, the errors could mislead voters about the scope and effect of Senate Bill 56.

The campaign disputes that characterization but acknowledged it will revise the language. Dennis Willard, a spokesperson for Ohioans for Cannabis Choice, said the group plans to correct the summary, collect a new set of initial signatures, and resubmit without slowing its broader organizing effort.

At the center of the dispute is Senate Bill 56, which Governor Mike DeWine signed last month. The law narrows the legal market for hemp-derived THC products by banning most sales outside licensed marijuana dispensaries. It also rolls back certain provisions of the adult-use cannabis system, including anti-discrimination protections for lawful cannabis users and allowances related to possession from out-of-state sources.

Supporters of the law say it is intended to rein in an unregulated hemp market and align Ohio with recent federal changes. Critics argue it goes further than necessary and undercuts the will of voters who approved marijuana legalization just two years ago.

For cannabis businesses in Ohio, the effects vary. Licensed dispensaries are expected to remain the primary legal outlet for both marijuana and higher-THC hemp products. Hemp-focused retailers, by contrast, may see entire product lines disappear. Some dispensary operators say the law does not threaten their survival but does limit growth and experimentation in the market.

If the revised petition is approved, Ohioans for Cannabis Choice would need to gather roughly 250,000 valid signatures from at least half of Ohio’s counties to place the referendum on the November 2026 ballot. If successful and submitted before the law’s effective date, implementation of Senate Bill 56 could be paused until voters decide.

For now, the law remains on track to take effect, and the state’s cannabis industry, patients, and consumers are left watching a procedural fight that could shape Ohio’s marijuana market for years to come.