ACLU of Ohio Statement on Signing of Senate Bill 56 by Governor DeWine

In November 2023, Ohioans passed a citizen-initiated statute known as Issue 2 with 57% of the vote, legalizing adult-use cannabis and taking important steps toward repairing the harms of past criminalization. Since then, Ohio lawmakers have been working hard to roll back portions of the voter-approved statute. The ACLU of Ohio opposed SB 56 because it is contrary to the will of voters, eliminating important protections for cannabis consumers and criminalizing cannabis conduct.

SB 56 eliminates voter-approved protections from cannabis-related adverse actions in areas such as the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities; medical care, like whether or not a person is included on a transplant waiting list; public benefits administered by state and local authorities; and others.

SB 56 also creates new criminal penalties at the expense of Ohio consumers, landing them in the crosshairs of the law for violating provisions that criminalize cannabis that is not homegrown or purchased at an Ohio dispensary or not stored in its original packaging.

The legislation is expected to go into effect in March 2026. Despite its apparent intent to do otherwise, we stand ready to assist the General Assembly in passing legislation that truly legalizes cannabis and repairs the harms of past criminalization.