Ohio Petition Approved to Repeal Cannabis Law

Ohioans For Cannabis Choice gathers signatures to put Senate Bill 56 on hold until November election.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The effort to repeal Ohio's new cannabis law, Senate Bill 56, is gaining momentum after Attorney General Dave Yost approved the latest petition summary submitted by Ohioans For Cannabis Choice. The group argues the law defies the will of voters who legalized cannabis in 2023. If they can collect the required signatures by March 19, the enactment of S.B. 56 will be put on hold until the November election.

Why it matters

This petition highlights the ongoing debate over cannabis legalization and regulation in Ohio. Some marijuana advocates support S.B. 56 as a way to preserve a safe, regulated market, while others argue the law gives monopoly rights to a few dispensaries and does not fully reflect the will of Ohio voters.

The details

Ohioans For Cannabis Choice's first petition summary was rejected by Yost last month due to inaccuracies regarding S.B. 56. The group's attorneys resolved the issues, and Yost has now approved the revised summary. If the group can collect nearly 250,000 valid signatures by March 19, the enactment of S.B. 56 will be put on hold until the November election. The repeal campaign is being backed by a paid circulation team and volunteers, and they are confident they can delay the law at least until the November vote.

  • Attorney General Dave Yost rejected the group's first petition summary in January 2026.
  • Ohioans For Cannabis Choice submitted a revised petition summary that was approved by Yost in February 2026.
  • The group must collect nearly 250,000 valid signatures by March 19, 2026 to put the enactment of S.B. 56 on hold until the November 2026 election.

The players

Ohioans For Cannabis Choice

A group leading the effort to repeal Ohio's new cannabis law, Senate Bill 56.

Dave Yost

The Attorney General of Ohio who approved the latest petition summary submitted by Ohioans For Cannabis Choice.

Dennis Willard

The spokesperson for the Ohioans For Cannabis Choice repeal campaign.

Rob McColley

The Ohio Senate President who noted the opposition to the repeal effort from some marijuana advocates.

David Bowling

The executive director of the Ohio Cannabis Coalition (OHCANN), which opposes the repeal effort.

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What they’re saying

“'He's known to nit-pick, so he picked a few nits. Our attorneys, they looked at what he had picked at and overnight they resolved that issue.'”

— Dennis Willard, Spokesperson, Ohioans For Cannabis Choice (wowktv.com)

“'S.B. 56 upholds the will of Ohio voters by preserving a safe, regulated, adult-use cannabis market while closing dangerous loopholes that allowed untested, intoxicating hemp products and out-of-state marijuana to flood Ohio shelves.'”

— David Bowling, Executive Director, Ohio Cannabis Coalition (OHCANN) (wowktv.com)

“'The people who are driving this repeal effort are not the marijuana folks. The marijuana folks and the backers of Issue 2 actually are against the repeal effort. You can draw your own conclusions as to why.'”

— Rob McColley, Ohio Senate President (wowktv.com)

“'They're absolutely, one hundred percent wrong, wrong, and the people of Ohio know that. The people of Ohio in 2023 went to the ballot and voted to make cannabis legal. Not to give monopoly rights to a few dispensaries.'”

— Dennis Willard, Spokesperson, Ohioans For Cannabis Choice (wowktv.com)

What’s next

If the referendum campaign successfully repeals S.B. 56, the current cannabis law in Ohio would largely revert to what was in place prior to the new law's enactment. Ohioans For Cannabis Choice has indicated they would be willing to work with lawmakers to help craft a new regulatory framework for hemp and marijuana in Ohio.

The takeaway

This petition drive highlights the ongoing tensions between lawmakers, marijuana advocates, and the intoxicating hemp industry in Ohio over the regulation of cannabis. The outcome could have significant implications for the future of Ohio's cannabis market and the will of voters who legalized it in 2023.