Signature Drive Accelerates to Block Ohio Hemp Law; Ohio Supreme Court Loosens Rule on Judges' Political Speech

Repeal campaign hires dozens of paid workers to collect nearly 250,000 voter signatures by March 20 deadline; Ohio judges and judicial candidates gain more leeway to speak on political issues

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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A campaign to repeal Ohio's new intoxicating hemp law has hired dozens of paid workers as it races to collect nearly 250,000 voter signatures by a March 20 deadline. In addition, the Ohio Supreme Court has amended the state's Code of Judicial Conduct to give judges and judicial candidates more freedom to speak on political issues, citing recent First Amendment court rulings.

Why it matters

The repeal campaign's aggressive signature drive highlights the high stakes involved in the new hemp law, which has faced backlash from some Ohioans. The Supreme Court's rule change also comes during a period of heightened politicization of Ohio's courts, with the state legislature recently adding party affiliation to judicial ballots.

The details

The Ohioans for Cannabis Choice campaign has hired Ohio Petitioning Partners, a signature-gathering firm, and 68 paid workers to help collect the required signatures. They are offering $9 per signature and targeting craft breweries, head shops, and large public events. The group says 5,000 people or businesses have used its website to request to sign a petition, offer to circulate them, or request to host petition signing events. Meanwhile, the Ohio Supreme Court has amended its Code of Judicial Conduct to clarify that constitutionally protected speech alone cannot be grounds for disciplining judges. The change was partly prompted by a recent case involving a Geauga County judge who was suspended for detaining children but not disciplined over his political comments. The rule change has drawn criticism from the court's lone Democrat, Justice Jennifer Brunner, who is suing over a separate law adding party affiliation to judicial ballots.

  • The repeal campaign has until March 20, 2026 to collect nearly 250,000 voter signatures.
  • The Ohio Supreme Court approved the rule change on judicial speech last week.

The players

Ohioans for Cannabis Choice

A campaign to repeal Ohio's new intoxicating hemp law.

Ohio Petitioning Partners

A Lorain County company that specializes in gathering signatures for political petitions, hired by Ohioans for Cannabis Choice.

Michael Arno

A California petition consultant working on the Ohioans for Cannabis Choice campaign.

Dennis Willard

A communications consultant for the Ohioans for Cannabis Choice campaign.

Ohio Supreme Court

The state's highest court, which amended the Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct to give judges and judicial candidates more freedom to speak on political issues.

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What they’re saying

“We're feeling very, very good about where we are right now, because we have the route for the paid circulation effort, and this groundswell of supporters who are really angry about this.”

— Dennis Willard, Communications consultant, Ohioans for Cannabis Choice (signalohio.org)

“The First Amendment is always going to prevail over conflicting state laws. But I think it just makes it more explicit.”

— Pat DeWine, Ohio Supreme Court Justice (signalohio.org)

“That's fine. But it's going to lead a lot of people to raise the argument, 'What I said is protected by my First Amendment rights.' It's a total disaster.”

— Pat Fischer, Ohio Supreme Court Justice (signalohio.org)

What’s next

If the Ohioans for Cannabis Choice campaign gathers enough signatures, the new hemp law will go on hold until a statewide vote in November 2026.

The takeaway

The aggressive signature drive and the Supreme Court's rule change on judicial speech both reflect the high-stakes political battles unfolding in Ohio, where lawmakers and the courts are grappling with issues ranging from drug policy to the role of partisanship in the judicial system.