Ohio General Assembly
State representatives and senators can introduce and pass changes to Ohio’s cannabis statutes. Start here for consumption lounges, possession and transport protections, or changes to restrictions enacted through SB 56.
Ohio Cannabis Directory
Ohio advocacy · sources checked October 12, 2026
Have a say in Ohio cannabis policy.
Find the people who can change the rules, choose what matters to you, and send a message in your own words.
Use your full home address in the official lookup to find both your state representative and senator. Open each member’s profile for their contact form, email or phone number.
Who can change what?
Division of Cannabis Control
DCC is part of the Ohio Department of Commerce. It administers the cannabis program and writes rules within the authority the legislature gives it. Use the rule-comment process for implementation details such as packaging, testing and permitted accessories.
Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review
JCARR reviews agency rules and accepts public comments. It can recommend that the General Assembly invalidate a rule; the agency writes or amends the rule. Check the agenda before offering testimony.
Municipal councils and township trustees
Local authorities can prohibit or limit the number of licensed cannabis businesses, subject to statutory exceptions. For a local restriction, request the ordinance or resolution and ask the clerk how to comment at a council or trustee meeting.
Changes you can ask for
These are reform proposals. Each card links the current law so you can explain the change you want.
Licensed consumption lounges
Current law: Smoking, combustion and vaporization are restricted to qualifying private residential or agricultural property, with additional prohibitions for public places, workplaces and certain residences.
Ask: Create a lawful licensing route for adult consumption lounges, with age checks, ventilation, worker protections and impaired-driving safeguards. This would require legislative changes to the location restrictions.
Revisit out-of-state product restrictions
Current law: Ohio’s marijuana definitions tie protected categories to Chapter 3796. Motor-vehicle transport is restricted to those categories.
Ask: Revisit Ohio penalties involving cannabis legally purchased in another state and give adults clearer protections. Ohio reform alone would not resolve federal restrictions on interstate transport.
ORC 3796.01(A)(2), (9), (17) · ORC 3796.062(A) · Federal possession law: 21 USC 844
Clear protections for ordinary accessories
Current law: Adult-use accessory protections depend on DCC rules. Marijuana paraphernalia has its own vehicle-transport conditions and penalty provisions.
Ask: Protect ordinary lawful-use accessories and replace confusing criminal exposure with clear, practical standards. This is not a claim that all pipes or accessories are banned.
Rules people can understand and follow
Ask: Review SB 56 restrictions for clarity, proportionality and practical effects on adults, medical patients and small businesses. Describe a specific problem and the wording or protection you want changed.
Read Chapter 3796 · SB 56 documents and votes · More Ohio rules resources
Build your letter
Choose your asks, add one personal reason, and review the draft. Your entries stay on this page until you copy or download them. Reloading clears them.
Send it and follow up
- Find both lawmakers through the official address lookup.
- Paste your edited letter into each member’s official contact form or email. Add any address details their office requests to confirm you are a constituent.
- Keep the sent date and response. If you have not heard back after about two weeks, ask the office for an update.
Call the office and follow up
A short call can help you find the staff member handling cannabis policy. Ask for their name, explain one practical concern, and request a written response.
Call script
Follow-up message
Keep your own follow-up notes
If you have not heard back after about two weeks, ask the office for an update.
Notes stay on this page. Download them before leaving if you want to keep them. The suggested date is a planning aid; it does not schedule a reminder.
Speak at a legislative hearing
Find the bill’s assigned committee and current hearing notice. Check the witness submission instructions and deadline before preparing testimony.
- Check the House committee listings or Senate committee guidance and schedule.
- State your name, whether you support or oppose the bill, one practical effect, and the specific change you request.
- Use the committee’s current witness form and submission instructions. Keep your testimony focused and bring supporting sources.
The SB 56 history shows its past committee route. A new reform bill can follow a different route; confirm its current assignment.
Comment on a proposed rule
- Search the Register of Ohio for Department of Commerce / Division of Cannabis Control filings.
- Open the proposed rule and public hearing notice. Confirm the rule number, deadline, hearing details and submission instructions in that notice.
- Explain which provision affects you, the practical problem, and the change you propose. Submit to the filing agency using the notice’s instructions.
- Check the JCARR guidance and agenda links if you also want to comment during its review.
Follow rule updates through RuleWatch Ohio. A proposed rule is not the same as an effective rule; check its filing status and effective date.
Official sources checked October 12, 2026. Linked Chapter 3796 sections identify SB 56 amendments effective March 20, 2026. Reform requests express a desired change; they do not grant permission under current law. Report a source or contact-link correction.