COLUMBUS, OH — In a move many see as an attempt to undercut Ohio’s recent marijuana legalization, Republican lawmakers have introduced Senate Bill No. 326, which aims to ban the sale of “intoxicating hemp products” statewide. The bill, introduced on November 6, 2024, by Republican Senator Stephen Huffman, would redefine and restrict hemp products containing even small amounts of THC, impacting a range of legal, widely used products. The legislation is positioned as an emergency measure, signaling heightened urgency from conservative lawmakers to limit access to THC products even as many Ohioans support broader legalization.
Senate Bill No. 326 proposes strict limits on what constitutes an “intoxicating hemp product.” According to the bill, any hemp-derived product containing more than 0.5 milligrams of delta-9 THC per serving, or 2 milligrams per package, would be classified as intoxicating and therefore illegal. This THC threshold would affect a wide range of items, including multi-serving edibles, oils, and tinctures, which may fall within limits per serving but exceed the total packaging cap. Additionally, the bill targets other THC variants, such as delta-8, which would be limited to 0.5 milligrams per package, a restriction aimed at alternative THC forms that have become popular as “legal highs.”
Supporters of the bill argue it’s a public safety measure designed to curb unregulated and potentially intoxicating products. However, critics see it as an overreach and a direct attack on the state’s emerging cannabis market, particularly given the passage of marijuana legalization. Hemp industry advocates argue that responsible businesses and consumers will bear the brunt of these sweeping restrictions while calling into question the need to sideline products that have gained legal traction and consumer trust.
If passed, Senate Bill No. 326 could strip Ohio’s marketplace of many hemp products consumers rely on as legal, regulated alternatives to marijuana. As the state navigates evolving attitudes and policies around cannabis, this bill underscores a push by conservative lawmakers to limit access to THC, sparking debate over regulation versus restriction in Ohio’s cannabis landscape.