Cannabis News

Ohio Activists Plan Referendum To Block New Law Rolling Back Marijuana Rights And Restricting Hemp Sales

Published

6 months ago

December 24, 2025

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Ohio activists are launching a campaign to stop a bill the governor just signed Reduce the state’s voter-approved marijuana law and prohibit the sale of consumable hemp products outside of licensed cannabis dispensaries.

Ohioans for Cannabis Choice said Friday it would collect signatures for a statewide referendum, which would suspend implementation of SB 56 until voters have a say in the next regular or general election.

Gov. Mike DeWine (R) has been adamant about fighting the intoxicating unregulated hemp market, but the legislation he signed would do more than limit the sale of cannabinoid products to dispensaries.

It would also recriminalize certain marijuana activities that were legalized under the 2023 ballot initiative, and would also remove anti-discrimination protections for cannabis users that were established under that law.

The governor also used his line veto powers to cancel a section of the bill that would have delayed the implementation of the hemp beverage ban.

Advocates and activists strongly protested the current legislation, arguing that it undermines the will of voters and would effectively wipe out the state’s hemp industry, as there is little hope that adults will choose hemp-based products over marijuana when they visit a dispensary.

The rejection spurred the newly introduced referendum, but the road to successfully blocking the law is narrow. Cannabis Choice for Ohioans must first collect an initial batch of 1,000 valid signatures, which would have to be certified by the secretary of state, and then submit a total of about 250,000 signatures for the ballot.

“SB 56 strongly defies the will of Ohio voters, who spoke clearly on this issue, and denies Ohioans the freedom to use these products for personal use,” said Dennis Willard, campaign spokesman.

“We are launching a referendum campaign to go directly to the voters,” he said he said. “We believe voters will say no to government overreach, no to closing 6,000 small businesses and laying off thousands of workers across the state, and no to recriminalizing hemp and marijuana.”

If activists reached the signature threshold three months from now, a deadline that coincides with the same day the restrictive law takes effect, SB 56 would not be enacted until voters had a chance to decide on the issue on the ballot.

Advocates have expressed several concerns with the law, including that it would eliminate language in statutes that provide anti-discrimination protections to people who legally use cannabis. It includes safeguards against adverse action in the context of child custody rights, the ability to perform organ transplants, and professional licensing.

It would also recriminalize possession of marijuana from any source other than a state-licensed Ohio dispensary or possession of marijuana from a legal household. Because of this, people can be charged with a felony for carrying cannabis purchased from a legal Michigan store in the Michigan area.

It would also ban the smoking of cannabis in outdoor public places, such as bar patios, and ban landlords from vaping marijuana in rental properties. Violation of this latter policy, even if it involves vaping in a person’s backyard in a rental property, would be a misdemeanor offense.

The legislation would also replace what had been a House-passed regulatory framework for intoxicating hemp with a broad ban on over-the-counter marijuana sales, following a recent federal move to recriminalize such products.

By law, hemp items containing more than 0.4 mg of total THC per container or containing synthetic cannabinoids cannot be sold outside of a licensed marijuana dispensary. That would be in line with the new federal hemp law included in an appropriations package signed by President Donald Trump.

The federal law banning most consumer hemp products has a one-year implementation window, however, and it appears Ohio’s legislation would go into effect sooner. The Legislature approved a temporary hemp beverage regulatory program in Ohio until December 31, 2026, but the governor vetoed that provision.

The law also includes language that, if the federal government moves to legalize hemp with a higher THC content, the Ohio legislature intends to review that policy change and explore potential statewide reforms to regulate these products.

The bill’s signing came after DeWine issued emergency regulations banning the sale of hemp products for 90 dayswith instructions to the legislature to consider permanent regulations. It has been done by a provincial judge ordered the state to enforce that policy in response to a legal challenge.

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Meanwhile, in September, the Ohio Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) released rules for the state’s proposed marijuana legalization legislation, establishing plans to update regulations on labeling and packaging requirements.

The proposal arrived a few weeks later Medical and adult marijuana sales in Ohio officially surpassed $3 billionData from the state Department of Commerce (DOC) shows.

the state About $703 million worth of recreational cannabis was sold in the first year the law was enactedAccording to data from DCC.

In March, a survey of 38 municipalities by the Ohio State University (OSU) Moritz School of Law found local leaders were “unequivocally opposed” to earlier proposals which would have cut planned funding..

Meanwhile, in Ohio, adults can buy more than double the amount of marijuana starting in June than were under previous limits, state officials determined that the market could sustainably supply patients and adult users of medical cannabis.

The governor announced his desire individually in March Marijuana tax revenue to support police training, local jails and behavioral health services. He said funding for police training was a top priority, even though it was not included when voters approved it in 2023.

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Cannabis News

cbdMD welcomes White House call for fair treatment of hemp-derived products

Published

18 hours ago

June 29, 2026

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cbdMD welcomes the Administration’s call for Congress to ensure fair treatment of hemp-derived products under federal law and calls for immediate action to revise hemp regulations to ensure fair treatment of hemp products under federal law.

In a letter to congressional leadership this week, the White House Office of Management and Budget identified hemp reform as a priority strongly supported by the Administration. The petition calls on Congress to ensure fair treatment of hemp-derived products by maintaining access to appropriate full-spectrum CBD products, and by maintaining Congress’ intent to reduce products that pose health risks. The administration also urged Congress to pass a responsible federal framework or at least extend the current implementation period to give lawmakers time to get policy right. The request builds on the president’s previous public statements urging lawmakers to protect access to full-spectrum CBD products that millions of Americans rely on.

“We are encouraged to see the administration so clearly championing the responsible, scientific hemp products that consumers depend on every day,” said Ronan Kennedy, CEO of cbdMD. “cbdMD has always believed that the future of this category is built on quality, transparency, and clear rules that separate them from bad actors. A federal framework that protects consumer access, promotes safety, and provides certainty to companies that provide certainty is what this industry and the people it serves deserve. We applaud the policymakers who are working to achieve this outcome.”

“We believe CbdMD is purpose-built for this next phase of the market,” added Kennedy. “Our focus remains on serving our customers with reliable and effective products, supporting responsible regulation and building long-term value for our shareholders as the category continues to evolve. Along the way, we will continue to evaluate the opportunities this evolving environment holds.”

For more information:
cbdMD
cbdmd.com/

Cannabis News

Applications For Missouri Marijuana Microbusiness Licenses Will Open Next Month

Published

18 hours ago

June 29, 2026

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“We have a lot of tutorials, and we also provide a step-by-step guide. Anyone could sit down and make the app. I don’t think it’s challenging.”

By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent

Application window win one of Missouri’s 77 micro-business marijuana licenses through a lottery selection it will be open from July 13 to 27.

The selection lottery is scheduled for Sept. 9, and the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation expects to issue licenses in December, according to a press release issued Monday.

Microbusinesses are marijuana facility licenses issued to entities and individuals designed to allow marginalized or underrepresented people to legally participate in the marijuana market.

Lesley Turek, the division’s capital manager, has been traveling the state this month to educate people about the application process.

“I really feel that microenterprise graduates are, first and foremost, a community of people who help each other,” he said. “They’re the ones who are driving this program forward, so I’m looking forward to meeting new people and sharing as much as I can about the program. It’s a great program.”

Much of what is being worked on is the new rules that went into effect at the end of May…In 2024 the proposed cannabis regulators will remove a large number of licences Because of unconstitutional property deals.

The new rules, he said, allow regulators to conduct extensive scrutiny before licensing, rather than after. Furthermore, they give a more in-depth explanation of what it means to “have and operate the majority” of the License, which is a requirement in the Constitution.

Regulators are mandated to communicate directly with majority owners and require applicants to complete a compliance course before applying and after receiving a license.

The microbusiness program was passed by voters in the 2022 constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana.

In Missouri, there are seven categories in which people can qualify for a micro-business license, ranging from lower income or living in an area considered poor, to past arrests or incarcerations related to marijuana offenses.

Applicants pay a $1,500 application fee if not selected. The Missouri Lottery will select 77 license applicants to open dispensaries or cultivation facilities. The goal is to fill the remaining gaps in the minimum 144 micro-business licenses mandated by the Constitution.

Turek believes the application is relatively simple and something people can complete on their own, unlike the much more complicated application for comprehensive licenses.

“We have a lot of tutorials, and we also offer a step-by-step guide,” he said. “Anyone can sit down and do the app. I don’t think it’s a challenge.”

The part that most people often don’t understand is everything that comes with owning a marijuana facility.

“It’s very expensive, it’s very regulated, and so it’s challenging,” he said. “I want to make sure people have a clear understanding beforehand so they can make a good decision whether they want to apply for this program.”

A big part of his presentation was that the majority of the licenses should be owned by and eligible people. They must have more than 50 percent of the authority to direct the decisions made with the license.

“It’s more than a percentage of ownership,” he said. “It’s really about being able to have that control over it.”

It also talks about the designated contact, and why in the new rule the regulators will require that the designated contact be the applicant or the eligible person with the majority of ownership.

The designated liaison role was conceived as a way to ensure clear communication between the state and licensees.

Instead, state regulators discovered it many named contacts have kept real applicants in the dark about business and licensing. Applicants are locked into agreements that limit their voting power and profits in the business.

That’s why the state now requires pre-application training, a three-video online course to ensure applicants understand “potentially predatory practices,” regulators said in response to public comments during the rulemaking process.

The press release It says those who need help with eligibility requirements or application forms can contact the facility’s application services (email protected).

Educational dissemination events for micro-enterprises

Personal forums:
June 22 – 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm – Kansas City

Webinars:
June 24 – from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m
June 29 – from 18:00 to 20:00

Registration is required for in-person and virtual sessions. Interested participants can register at Microenterprise education. Additional information on the microenterprise program is available here cannabis.mo.gov.

Those requiring assistance with eligibility requirements or application forms may contact Facilities Application Services at (email protected).

This story was first published by the Missouri Independent.

Marijuana Moment is made possible with the help of readers. If you rely on our pro-cannabis journalism to stay informed, consider a monthly Patreon pledge.

Cannabis News

RAND estimates Indiana adult-use cannabis could yield $180M in annual revenue

Published

2 days ago

June 28, 2026

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Two new RAND reports commissioned by the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation outline the policy options and financial commitments facing Indiana as the state debates whether to change its cannabis laws amid restrictions across the country.

Reports show that 44% of Indiana residents live within 50 miles of a licensed dispensary in a neighboring state, and 96% live within 100 miles, as three of Indiana’s four states have legalized adult-use cannabis. At the same time, intoxicating hemp products containing the same psychoactive compound as marijuana are available at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores throughout Indiana with limited oversight.

Cannabis use in Indiana has doubled in the past decade, with a significant increase among adults 26 and older. RAND estimates that 1.3 million Hoosiers used cannabis in 2024 and spent $1.8 billion on marijuana products that year. Indiana recorded more than 13,000 cannabis-related arrests in 2024, with more than 90% for possession and more than 75% for non-cannabis related charges. The state spends $10 million to $20 million annually on cannabis law enforcement.

Rather than recommending a specific policy, the RAND reports outline four broad options: maintaining prohibition, reducing criminal penalties for possession, legalizing medical cannabis, or legalizing the adult recreational use market. Legalizing adult-use cannabis would generate about $180 million in annual state revenue, roughly 1 percent of the state’s general fund, well below some previous projections and less than half of the $385 million in combined cigarette and alcohol tax revenue Indiana will collect in 2025, according to the Indiana Department of Revenue.

Legalization would also entail significant upfront costs, and ongoing regulatory costs could reach the low tens of millions of dollars annually, outweighing the savings from reduced criminal justice spending. RAND identifies 14 policy considerations important to establishing legal markets, each with its own public health and state economic implications.