Substitute Senate Bill 56 to Be Heard Wednesday: Key Changes and How to Participate

On Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at 9:00 AM in Room 313 of the Ohio Statehouse, the House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on Substitute Senate Bill 56 (Sub. SB 56). This substitute version introduces several significant amendments to the original bill passed by the Senate earlier this year, aiming to reshape Ohio’s adult-use cannabis program, which was established by voters under Issue 2 in November 2023.

Key Changes Introduced in Sub. SB 56

Ohio Sub. SB 56 2025 has been amended from its original in the following ways:

1. Home Cultivation Limits Adjusted

• Original SB 56: Allowed six plants per person and six plants per household.
• Sub. SB 56: Allows up to six plants per person, with a maximum of 12 plants per household.

2. THC Content Restrictions

• Original SB 56: Limited THC levels to 35% for plant material and 70% for extracts.
• Sub. SB 56: Retains these limits but grants the Division of Cannabis Control (DCC) authority to adjust or eliminate these limits for any adult-use or medical cannabis product.

3. Public Consumption Rules Modified

• Original SB 56: Prohibited smoking or vaporizing cannabis in public places.
• Sub. SB 56: Expands the prohibition to include intoxicating hemp products and specifies that violations apply only to “knowing” offenses. It also exempts consumption at privately owned real property used primarily for residential or agricultural purposes and at outdoor concert venues, subject to venue policies.

4. Sharing of Cannabis

• Original SB 56: Prohibited giving, selling, or transferring homegrown or adult-use cannabis to any person, with or without remuneration, except by a licensed dispensary.
• Sub. SB 56: Allows adult-use consumers to transfer cannabis to another adult-use consumer without remuneration if the transfer occurs at a primary residence.

5. Penalties for Vehicle Consumption

• Original SB 56: Imposed enhanced penalties for passengers consuming cannabis in a motor vehicle, escalating to felony charges for repeat offenses.
• Sub. SB 56: Applies the same penalty for passengers consuming cannabis in a motor vehicle as current law—a minor misdemeanor.

6. Universal Cannabis Work Permit

• Original SB 56: Required individuals seeking employment with a license holder to complete a criminal records check.
• Sub. SB 56: Establishes a universal cannabis work permit program, allowing permit holders to work for any license holder. It also allows for provisional permits while background checks are pending.

7. Dispensary Operations

• Original SB 56: Did not specify rules for dispensary deliveries or paraphernalia sales.
• Sub. SB 56: Allows licensed dispensaries to sell paraphernalia approved by DCC rules and to deliver adult-use cannabis in accordance with DCC regulations. Sub. SB 56 also allows for pre-roll sales at dispensaries.

How to Participate in the Hearing

If you wish to testify in person as a proponent, opponent, or interested party, you must submit the following by Tuesday morning, June 3, 2025 at 9 a.m.:

• A completed witness information form (PDF)
• Your written testimony in PDF or Word format

Email both to:
📧 OHRJudiciaryCommittee@ohiohouse.gov

Why This Matters

While advocacy has fought many of the restrictive measures that legislators intended to enact, Sub. SB 56 still represents a significant redirection of the voter-approved cannabis law. Wednesday is your opportunity to have your voice heard about the details of this bill that matter most to you.

Advocating for yourself and your community is an important skill! If you’d like to learn more about how the legal process works with respects to cannabis and other areas of social justice, join MedicateOH and our advocate friends at the Columbus Botanical Depot event center for our free Cannabis Advocacy education courses on Saturday, June 14th, noon-2 p.m. or 3-5 p.m.

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