COLUMBUS, Ohio (WXIX) -Gov. Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 56 into law while blocking a provision that would have let bars and breweries sell THC-infused drinks in Ohio, according to the Ohio Legislature.
The bill, sponsored by State Senator Stephen A. Huffman, changes Ohio’s marijuana and hemp laws. It passed the state Senate in a 22-7 vote Dec. 9 after previously passing the House.
The blocked provision would have allowed bars and breweries to sell drinks with small amounts of THC until the end of 2026.
In his veto message, DeWine said he blocked the provision because of a new federal ban and safety concerns.
“On November 12th, Congress and President Trump enacted a federal ban on intoxicating hemp, beginning in November 2026. This ban includes a ban on THC beverages,” DeWine said. “Ohio is making good public policy by enacting its own ban earlier than federal law. However, allowing the sale of intoxicating hemp beverages for most of 2026 will create confusion for consumers.”
DeWine also worried about how companies market THC products.
“Further purveyors of intoxicating hemp often market their products as an alcohol substitute, even claiming health benefits. The facts are that THC is not analogous to alcohol, is metabolized differently than alcohol, and does not intoxicate in the same way alcohol does,” he said. “This can mislead consumers into thinking these products will have the same effect on them as alcohol, when there is no way to guarantee such claims, thus creating safety issues.”
The new law creates restrictions on marijuana products, including reducing THC levels allowed in products, limiting its use in public spaces, and banning its consumption or growth in childcare facilities, according to the bill.
The new restrictions apply to all intoxicating marijuana products, including edibles and beverages, and limit the sale of THC products to dispensaries.
The law also requires hemp products with more than small amounts of THC to be sold only at licensed marijuana dispensaries and expunges records for people convicted of offenses that are now legal.
SB 56 comes as a compromise after DeWine imposed a ban on the sale of THC-infused products in October, including edibles and beverages, outside of licensed dispensaries. The ban was quickly blocked in court by a Franklin County judge.
The bill faced opposition from some lawmakers who argued the new restrictions go against voters’ will after Ohioans voted in favor of a ballot measure in 2023 protecting adult-use cannabis.
“Ohioans were loud and clear when they passed Issue 2 – they wanted real decriminalization and a responsible, adult-use market, not politicians overturning the will of the voters,” Sen. Minority Leader Dani Isaacson said. “SB 56 undercuts the will of the voters and moves our state backward at a moment when the rest of the country is moving forward.”
However, supporters commended the steps to protect consumers from the Farm Bill loophole, which unintentionally allowed for the sale of intoxicating hemp products as long as they maintained low levels of the delta-9 compound.
“My colleagues and I respect the will of the voters,” Sen. George Lang said following the bill’s introduction. “This legislation would streamline licensing standards and implement protections against public smoking and home growth at residences where child care services are offered.”
The Ohio Cannabis Coalition released a statement commending the legislature’s action in providing safer regulations for consumers and the industry.
“With Senate Bill 56 now approved by both chambers, Ohio is taking decisive action to protect families and demonstrate leadership as one of the first states in the nation to act since the closure of the Farm Bill loophole,” the statement said.
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