Ohio cannabis sales launch nine months after legalization

On November 7, 2023, 57% of Ohio voters approved Issue 2, legalizing cannabis for adults 21 and older. More than half of Americans now live in a legal cannabis state!

The new, MPP-backed law took effect on December 7, 2023. Adult-use sales began from existing medical cannabis dispensaries on August 6, 2024, in keeping with the initiative's nine-month deadline for sales. Adults 21 and older can now possess and purchase up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis. Ohioans can also securely grow up to six plants. You can check out our summary for more details about the law.

Unfortunately, immediately after Election Day, advocates needed to play defense. Ohio law allows the legislature to revise — or even repeal — voter-enacted statutes like Issue 2 with a simple majority. The Senate proposed replacing a House-passed bill (HB 86) with an evisceration of the voter-approved law, including removing home cultivation, slashing possession limits, removing social equity provisions, and more than doubling taxes.

MPP, our allies, and thousands of outraged Ohioans pushed back, and the House made it clear it would not go play ball with abandoning the will of the people. On December 6, 2023, the Senate significantly revised and passed its bill. The revised version of HB 86 walks back the gutting of home cultivation and possession limits and includes two positive changes — limited expungement and earlier adult-use sales.

While the immediate threat is gone, the legislature could still take up future proposals to whittle away the will of voters. Make sure you’re signed up to MPP’s email alerts so we can let you know of any threats.

But this Senate-passed bill still ramps up criminalization, increases taxes, caps extracts at 50%, bans vaping or smoking cannabis anywhere except some homes, eliminates social equity, prohibits sharing, and does away with non-discrimination protections. Thankfully, the House did not take up the bill.

Medical Cannabis and Decriminalization in Ohio

In 2015-2016, MPP and our allies mobilized to put medical cannabis on the ballot. In response, state lawmakers passed a law to establish a medical cannabis program for Ohioans in 2016. As of June 2024, the program is serving over 160,000 registered patients throughout the state. For more information on Ohio’s medical marijuana program and access to patient forms and other resources, visit Division of Cannabis Control's website. And, for an overview of the current medical marijuana law, see this summary.

Ohio also has one of the oldest “decriminalization” laws on the books, dating back to 1975. While cannabis is now legal for adults, the “decrim” penalties continue to apply to those under 21. For minors, possessing less than 100 grams (or about 3.5 ounces), giving 20 grams or less of marijuana to another person, or growing less than 100 grams of marijuana are each considered “minor misdemeanors,” punishable by a maximum fine of $150. A minor misdemeanor is not a “jailable” offense, but a person’s driver’s license can be suspended for a period ranging from six months to five years.

Stay connected

To stay updated on the status of marijuana policy reform in Ohio, be sure to subscribe to MPP's alerts, if you haven't done so already.