In a move that underscores the evolving nature of Ohio’s cannabis policy, regulators last week more than doubled the legal purchase limit for adult-use (recreational) consumers. Under the updated rules from the Division of Cannabis Control (DCC), consumers can now legally buy up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis flower or 15 grams of concentrates per day—up from the previous limits of 2.5 ounces over two weeks and 2 grams of extract per day.
While this adjustment appears to be a win for the recreational market, many in Ohio’s cannabis community see this move as abandonment of the medical program. The rapid expansion of the recreational market, paired with a series of recent proposals from the Statehouse that would tighten legal restrictions on even those using it medically, signals a troubling shift away from the therapeutic roots of cannabis legalization in the state.
Recreational Market Surges, Rules Loosen
Established in 2019, Ohio’s medical program continues to operate alongside the newly established adult-use cannabis market. Patients and caregivers are encouraged to maintain their cards. They receive incentives for doing so, including not having to pay the adult-use tax, shorter lines, and discounts at some dispensaries.
Since adult-use sales began in August 2024, the Ohio industry has boomed. As of March 15, 2025, Ohio’s cannabis sales topped $2.5 billion. Tax income from the program is now projected to reach up to $115 million annually, providing a strong incentive for the state to continue supporting recreational expansion.
Meanwhile, the Medical Program Tightens
However, while recreational users enjoy expanded access, Ohio’s medical marijuana patients face increasing hurdles. Senate Bill 56 proposes a number of restrictive measures that would reshape the state’s approach to cannabis regulation. Among them:
- A reduction in the allowable THC content in concentrates from 90% to 70%.
- A cap on home cultivation—dropping the allowed number of plants from 12 per household to just six.
- The bill proposes a hike in the excise tax on adult-use products, which could indirectly impact pricing for medical users who shop at co-licensed dispensaries.
Taken together, these changes signal a pivot in Ohio’s priorities. Instead of expanding support for patients who rely on cannabis as medicine, lawmakers are focusing on tightening controls and maximizing tax revenue from recreational sales.
Patients Left Behind
For many Ohioans living with chronic pain, PTSD, epilepsy, and other qualifying conditions, the medical program offered a lifeline. Now, as recreational rules relax, the medical framework is shrinking. Once the recreational market opened, a decrease in medical registrations occurred, with the number falling from to 184,958 to 178,703 patients with both active registration and recommendation. As of April 2025, only 97,852 patients with both an active registration and an active recommendation remain despite lower prices and shorter lines.
The discrepancy between how Ohio is treating recreational and medical users is increasingly stark. Recreational buyers can now access more cannabis, more easily, and with fewer restrictions. Medical users, meanwhile, may see higher prices, lower THC concentrations, and fewer homegrown options.
Further, the writer of this article is among a group of Ohio medical cannabis patients that have been refused medical purchase at dispensaries on multiple occasions due to an error that continues to tie medical cannabis patients to the state’s Ohio Automatic Rx Reporting System (OARRS). This error remains even though the Ohio Board of Pharmacy has no control over the program anymore. It’s a frustrating development for patients who feel that their medical needs are being sidelined in favor of profit and politics.
A Call to Action: Connect with your Ohio Legislators
Ohio’s current trajectory shows a state eager to embrace the cannabis market—but one that risks forgetting the patients who laid the foundation for this progress. Recreational legalization was made possible, in large part, by years of patient advocacy and the data that demonstrates the success of medical cannabis.
Now, as the system tilts toward recreation, it’s more important than ever for citizens to speak up.If you or a loved one uses cannabis as medicine, your voice matters. Contact your state representative. Share your story. Let lawmakers know that cannabis isn’t just a commodity—it’s a healing substance with real medical value.
Progress doesn’t have to mean leaving patients behind. With continued advocacy, Ohio can strike a balance that supports both freedom and compassion in its cannabis policy.
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