The cannabis landscape is shifting rapidly this February in Ohio and Kentucky, marked by high-stakes legal drama in Columbus and a retail boom in the Bluegrass State. While Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost moves forward with a landmark lawsuit against multi-state operators and green-lights a grassroots repeal effort of parts of the controversial SB 56, Kentucky is seeing a surge in medical dispensary openings and a campaign for full decriminalization. Here’s the news you need:
Ohio: Legal Battles and Grassroots Repeal Efforts
AG Approves Repeal Effort for SB 56
This week, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost certified the summary language for a referendum petition aimed at repealing Senate Bill 56. Signed into law in late 2025, SB 56 has faced intense criticism for adding new criminal penalties to cannabis possession and effectively banning most “intoxicating” hemp products.
With the AG’s approval, now the group Ohioans for Cannabis Choice can officially begin the daunting task of collecting nearly 250,000 valid signatures by late March to place the repeal on the November 2026 ballot.
How Signatures are Collected Appropriately In Ohio, collecting signatures is a strictly regulated process to ensure every vote counts:
- One County per Booklet: To keep things organized for verification, signatures from different counties cannot be on the same “part-petition” (booklet).
- The Witness Rule: A circulator must personally witness every signature. You cannot simply leave a petition on a counter for people to sign.
- Voter Eligibility: Signers must be registered Ohio voters. Advocates often use tools like voteohio.gov on the spot to verify a resident’s registration before they sign.
How You Can Help: Look for volunteers at local festivals, libraries, and community events. Ensure you sign only the booklet designated for your specific county of residence. You can also volunteer as a circulator by contacting Ohioans for Cannabis Choice to receive training and official materials. More information and volunteer signup at their website: https://noonsb56.com/
Antitrust Lawsuit Hits Major Cannabis Companies
In a surprising move for the industry, Ohio AG Yost also this week filed an antitrust lawsuit against nine major Multi-State Operators (MSOs) that do business in Ohio: Ascend Wellness, Ayr Wellness, The Cannabist Company, Curaleaf, Jushi, Trulieve, Verano, Green Thumb Industries, and Cresco Labs. The suit alleges these companies operated like a “cartel,” conspiring to keep cannabis prices high and limit consumer choice.
The state believes there’s evidence that these companies agreed to prioritize each other’s products in their dispensaries while freezing out smaller, Ohio-based independent growers. MedicateOH independently verified this complaint with several of our sources who operate locally-owned Ohio cultivation facilities and dispensaries.
If the state wins its lawsuit against the MSOs, it could lead to a more diverse selection of products at dispensaries and lower prices as the price-fixing scheme is dismantled. While it’s unknown how it will turn out, this lawsuit could open the door for smaller Ohio locally-owned licensees to finally get their products on more shelves.
Kentucky: Expansion and the Push for Decriminalization
More Dispensaries Open Their Doors
The rollout of Kentucky’s medical cannabis program is gaining momentum after more than a year of waiting. Several new dispensaries have opened recently, providing much-needed access for patients with qualifying conditions like cancer, PTSD, and chronic pain.
Seven of the state’s 48 dispensaries are now open to serve the 18,500 people who have been approved for medical cannabis cards so far in Kentucky. New locations open now include:
- Blue Sage Cannabis Company in Nicholasville.
- NuEra in Frankfort.
- Kentucky Alternative Care in Louisville.
- Speakeasy Dispensary in Lexington.
- Green Releaf Dispensary in Pulaski County.
- The Post Dispensary in Beaver Dam.
- BlueGrass CannaCare in Florence Read more
The Dayton, Ky-based Bison Manufacturing also recently held its ribbon cutting and are now supplying gummies to Kentucky dispensaries. Bison is the first of 10 approved cannabis processors to open in Kentucky.
Kentucky’s First Cultivators
Five of the state’s 16 cultivators have also opened. Licenses were awarded by tier: (I) Up to 2,500 sq feet of grow space (II) Up to 10,000 (III) Up to 25,000 and (IV) up to 50,000. The first to open were:
Armory Kentucky LLC (Graves County): Based in Mayfield, this Tier II licensee was the first cultivator to begin operations in July 2025.
Natural State GreenGrass CannaCo (Madison County): Located in Richmond Industrial Park in Madison County, this Tier III facility held its ribbon-cutting in October 2025. Headquartered in Arkansas, they do business as Dark Horse Cannabis. They also own Speakeasy Dispensary. Because Kentucky regulations intended to limit vertical integration (holding licenses for cultivation, processing, and retail simultaneously), Dark Horse has faced scrutiny for its high-volume application strategy, which prompted a still-ongoing state audit of the licensing process.
VS Kentucky Ops (Jessamine County): This Tier II licensee is partnering with Trilux KY Management to bring well-known Missouri brands, like Vivid and Buoyant Bob, to the Kentucky medical market.
Cresco Labs (Clark County): Chicago-based MSO Cresco earned a Tier III license and built their Kentucky facility in Winchester. Patients and consumers may be familiar with their Sunnyside dispensaries in Ohio and other state markets, but so far there are no plans for retail locations in Kentucky as they focus on cultivation.
Medical Cards in Kentucky
Governor Andy Beshear urged lawmakers to expand the list of qualifying conditions to get a medical card. Sixteen conditions were cited, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, sickle cell anemia, fibromyalgia, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS and terminal illnesses. “Expanding the list to include these conditions could help provide relief to approximately 430,000 Kentuckians,” said Beshear.
Some patients have criticized the prices and selection of the cannabis products available to Kentuckians thus far, starting at around $50 for an eighth of flower and $50 for an 88 mg gummy package. For reference, an eighth of cannabis (3.5 grams) in Michigan generally costs between $15 and $40 for mid-shelf to top-shelf, with some premium options ranging up to $60. While Ohio uses a different standard measurement (2.83 grams), 3.5 grams in Ohio generally costs between $30 and $50 in licensed dispensaries, depending on quality, strain, and location.
In Michigan, 100mg THC edible gummies typically cost between $5 and $15 per package (usually containing 10 gummies at 10mg each), with frequent dispensary deals often bringing prices down to as low as $2 to $4 per pack. In Ohio dispensaries, a 100 mg THC gummy package generally costs between $15 and $30.
Additional criticism has been noted about the wait for dispensaries to open. Because medical cards were issued beginning December 2024, some patients’ cards already expired before they actually got to use it. The application fee for the card is $25, which will be waived for renewals in 2026 by the state.
However, patients are still responsible for any fees for their doctor or nurse practitioner’s patient evaluation renewal appointments. After the initial certification and up to three 60-day renewals (roughly 8 months total), the practitioner must conduct an in-person or telehealth examination of the patient before issuing another certification. Online or telehealth evaluations are not permitted for the initial certification, but renewal by telehealth may be available, depending on the practitioner.
Advocacy Spotlight: Decriminalization Campaign
While the medical program grows, Kentucky advocates are reminding the state that thousands of Kentuckians still face criminal records for simple possession. A new campaign on Change.org is gaining steam, calling on the General Assembly to pass HB 198, which would decriminalize personal use quantities of cannabis.
The goal is to shift Kentucky’s approach from one of incarceration to one of sensible regulation, ensuring that a small amount of cannabis doesn’t result in a life-altering criminal record. You can view and sign the petition to support Kentucky decriminalization here: https://www.change.org/p/put-cannabis-decriminalization-on-the-kentucky-ballot
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