Name: Ohio AG rejects cannabis referendum
Uploaded: 2026-01-14T17:57:27.338Z
Duration: 2 min 24 s
Description: A setback for a group trying to roll back changes to Ohio’s marijuana law. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is rejecting a petition tied to Senate Bill, but supporters say their fight is far from over.

A setback for a group trying to roll back changes to Ohio’s marijuana law. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is rejecting a petition tied to Senate Bill, but supporters say their fight is far from over.

Cleveland

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has rejected a petition from the Ohioans for Cannabis Coalition that sought to overturn Senate Bill 56, a law that will ban and restrict various hemp-based THC products beginning in March. Yost cited omissions and misstatements in the petition's summary language, stating it could confuse voters.

Supporters of the referendum, including business owners and advocacy groups, argue the new law is overly restrictive and threatens both businesses and voter-approved measures. They plan to revise the petition language, collect additional signatures, and aim to place the issue on the November ballot, allowing Ohio voters to decide.

Ohio AG rejects cannabis referendum

A setback this morning for a group trying to roll back changes to Ohio's marijuana law. Late last night, the Ohio Attorney General rejected a petition tied to Senate Bill 56. But supporters say their fight is far from over. Tessa DiCiro joins us in the studio this morning to get us up to speed on what happens next. Good morning, Tessa. Good morning, Mike. So we first told you about Senate Bill 56 at the end of last month. The new law, which takes effect in March, bans and restricts hemp-based THC products in Ohio. Think things like THC edibles, gummies, candies, THC-infused beverages, liquid THC products made from hemp, high-potency Delta A products, and products marketed to minors. So Ohioans for Cannabis Coalition are working to get these new restrictions thrown out. The group submitted a proposed referendum to appeal Senate Bill 56 to Attorney General Dave Yost's office. But Yost rejected the petition, saying the summary language contains omissions and misstatements that could confuse voters. Opponents say the Senate bill goes too far, calling it, quote, total government overreach. They also say the changes hurt businesses, limit consumer access, and threaten what the voters already approved. I have devoted my entire life savings, my entire life to. It would most likely put me out of business. In a statement, Ohioans for Cannabis Choice say, says the Attorney General's decision is just a speed bump. Adding, quote, we're disappointed but not surprised or deterred. We're going to fix the language, collect additional signatures, and not slow down. But Governor DeWine, who signed Senate Bill 56 into law, says it's designed to close some dangerous loopholes in Ohio's hemp law. A gaping hole, and that includes liquids as well as the gummies that I was complaining about, you know, been complaining about for some time. So again, no one intended this hemp law to open the door to basically unlimited THC. The bottom line this morning, the debate is far from over. Ohioans for Cannabis Choice says it plans to rewrite the referendum language, collect those signatures, and push to get this on the November ballot, ultimately giving Ohio voters the final say. And you know, we'll keep watching this for you. We'll stay on top of it. A lot to come. Oh yeah, so much back and forth with this, and I don't see it stopping.

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