Cannabis in Ohio

[1] Prior to legalization, Ohio decriminalized possession of up 100 grams in 1975, with several of the state's major cities later enacting further reforms.

On August 22, 1975, Governor James Rhodes signed a bill decriminalizing cannabis, making Ohio the sixth state to do so.

[4] The initiative was sponsored by a group of investors that included boy band singer Nick Lachey, NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson, NFL defensive end Frostee Rucker, and fashion designer Nanette Lepore.

[10] The bill set up a rulemaking process under which a "state-run or licensed system of growing facilities, testing labs, physician certification, patient registration, processors, and retail dispensaries" was established.

[16] The Ohio Board of Pharmacy announced in September 2021 another 73 planned licenses would be awarded via lottery, in part to allow equity of access.

"[19] Home cultivation and ingestion by way of smoking are prohibited under the law, which permits use only in edible, oil, vapor, patch, tincture, or plant matter form.

[32] On August 16, 2023, after the campaign submitted an additional 127,772 valid signatures, the Ohio Secretary of State announced that the measure would appear on the 2023 ballot.

[34][35] It makes the following changes to Ohio law:[36][37] Possession and personal cultivation of cannabis became legal on the initiative effective date, December 7, 2023.

[42] In November 2018, Dayton residents voted by a 73–27 margin to approve an advisory referendum urging city leaders to decriminalize cannabis.

[44] In June 2019, Cincinnati City Council voted 5–3 to eliminate all penalties for possession of up to 100 grams (3½ oz) of cannabis except in cases of public use.

[48][49] Other jurisdictions in Ohio that have approved decriminalization ordinances include Bellaire (2016),[50] Logan (2016),[50] Newark (2016),[50] Roseville (2016),[50] Athens (2017),[50] Fremont (2018),[51] Norwood (2018),[51] Oregon (2018),[51] Windham (2018),[51] Bremen (2019),[52] Nelsonville (2019),[52] Northwood (2019),[52] Plymouth (2020),[53] Adena (2020),[54] Glouster (2020),[54] Jacksonville (2020),[54] Trimble (2020),[54] Martins Ferry (2021),[55] Murray City (2021),[55] New Lexington (2021),[55] New Straitsville (2021),[55] Rayland (2021),[55] Tiltonsville (2021),[55] Yorkville (2021),[55] Fostoria (2022),[56] Forest Park (2022),[57] Corning (2022),[58] Hemlock (2022),[58] Kent (2022),[58] Laurelville (2022),[58] Rushville (2022),[58] Shawnee (2022),[58] and Helena (2023).