It was another busy week for cannabis policy in Ohio and across the country, with developments at the Statehouse, renewed federal uncertainty, and major updates in neighboring states that directly affect Ohio patients and consumers. While a few potential benefits have emerged in the conversation, the overall trajectory points toward increased restriction, high costs, and continued instability in cannabis access.
Ohio Moves Closer to Enacting SB 56
In Ohio, Senate Bill 56 is now on the doorstep of becoming law. Governor Mike DeWine has stated publicly that he intends to sign the bill, though he has not yet done so as of this week. The bill reached his desk last week, giving him 10 days to take action.
Once enacted, SB 56 would make substantial changes to Ohio’s adult-use cannabis framework and hemp regulations, altering key aspects of the voter-approved program. We’ve outlined those here.
Citizens remain deeply concerned about the bill. Rather than refining or responsibly implementing adult-use legalization, advocates say SB 56 rolls back access and imposes new constraints after Ohio voters clearly signaled support for legalization. Even with the governor’s stated intent to sign, uncertainty remains around timing, enforcement, and how disruptive the changes may be for patients, operators, and consumers.
Federal Cannabis News: Rescheduling, Not the Reform Advocates Want
At the national level, cannabis once again entered the political spotlight. President Donald Trump has suggested he may pursue marijuana rescheduling at the federal level. It is important to clarify that the current federal review of cannabis’s status under the Controlled Substances Act was initiated under President Joe Biden, who directed federal agencies to reevaluate cannabis scheduling. We reported on that here in May 2024.
While rescheduling is often framed as progress, many advocates stress that it falls short of meaningful reform. The broader movement has consistently called for declassification, not reclassification. Removing cannabis entirely from the Controlled Substances Act is widely seen as necessary to fully address criminalization, enforcement disparities, and regulatory confusion.
There are a few possible silver linings being discussed. For patients, a lower federal schedule could eventually open pathways for cannabis to be covered under certain healthcare or insurance structures. For consumers, federal changes could one day allow legal interstate commerce, including online purchases across state lines. However, these outcomes remain speculative, and many fear partial reform could lock in a flawed federal framework rather than dismantle it.
Michigan Cannabis Taxes Could Reshape the Ohio Market
In Michigan, lawmakers appear poised to move forward with a 24 percent cannabis tax, despite ongoing legal challenges. If implemented, the increase would significantly raise prices in a state that many Ohio consumers rely on for lower-cost cannabis products.
Because thousands of Ohio residents continue to cross the border to Michigan dispensaries, any substantial price increase there could push more consumers back toward Ohio’s legal market. Whether Ohio dispensaries are prepared to meet that demand competitively remains an open question. SB 56 clarifies that Ohioans must only purchase their cannabis in Ohio, however it has been always illegal to cross state lines with cannabis. Those who follow the state law to the letter should be consuming their cannabis products completely or discarding them before traveling back to Ohio.
Kentucky Opens First Dispensary, But With Major Limitations
To the south, Kentucky opened its first medical cannabis dispensary this week in Beaver Dam (The Post), marking a major milestone for the state. The dispensaries in Kentucky will have “reciprocity”, meaning patients visiting from Ohio or other states with an active medical marijuana card will be allowed to purchase there. Because it remains illegal to cross state lines with cannabis, this gives improved access to cannabis to medical patients visiting the Bluegrass from outside Kentucky.
Kentucky’s rollout thus far has been extremely limited. At launch, only a single strain of flower was available, and patients were restricted to purchasing just one eighth of an ounce per visit at a price of $50. For many patients, that pricing and lack of choice reflect serious access challenges. If Kentucky’s program is to succeed, prices will need to come down and product variety will need to expand to compete with surrounding states.
Lexington’s Farmtucky was first to market with its Emerald Fire flower strain. The company has indicated that processed products, including non-flower options, are not expected to be available until around February, underscoring how early and incomplete the current rollout remains.
Additional dispensary openings are soon to follow. MedicateOH has been in contact with two other dispensaries that are ready to open and are awaiting final approval in Lexington and Florence. At the same time, questions remain about larger multi-state operators. Major Ohio brands such as Cresco and Curaleaf were awarded licenses in Kentucky, but so far there have been no public updates on progress. The only visible activity to date from these companies has been hiring announcements.
What This Means for Ohio Patients and Consumers
Taken together, this week’s cannabis news highlights a notable policy shift. Ohio appears poised to make changes to its program through SB 56. Federal reform risks stopping at rescheduling rather than a more favorable declassification. Michigan looks to raise prices, and Kentucky’s new program, while historic, is still far too limited in scope to actually make an impact.
We will continue to monitor these developments closely and provide updates as laws, markets, and access continue to shift across Ohio, Kentucky and the region. Subscribe to our newsletter to get a single email in your inbox each Monday.
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