Ohio cannabis history
Reviewed
The Division of Cannabis Control says a majority of voters approved Issue 2 on November 7, 2023. It says non-medical sales began on August 6, 2024.
This is a short history, not legal advice. The rules that apply today are on the Ohio cannabis laws page. A date is included only when the linked page states it.
At a glance
September 8, 2016The legislature lists House Bill 523, authorizing medical marijuana, as effective September 8, 2016.
August 6, 2024The division says it issued the first dual-use dispensary certificates on August 6, 2024, and that non-medical sales began that day.
March 20, 2026Revised Code sections 3796.04 and 3796.221 are marked effective March 20, 2026.
Medical sales
- The Legislative Service Commission’s digest lists the governor-action date for House Bill 523 as June 8, 2016, with an effective date of September 8, 2016.
- The division says sales of medical cannabis began on January 14, 2019.
Issue 2
- The authenticated code for section 3780.02 is effective December 7, 2023, and says it was enacted by initiative petition on November 7, 2023. Certified yes and no totals were not on the page used here.
- The division says those certificates allowed dispensaries to begin selling non-medical cannabis.
- Section 3796.221 caps combined homegrown and adult-use marijuana at 2.5 ounces of plant material and 15 grams of extract.
Sources
- sales of medical cannabis began on January 14, 2019
- effective September 8, 2016
- 2.5 ounces of plant material and 15 grams of extract
- June 8, 2016, with an effective date of September 8, 2016
- effective December 7, 2023, and says it was enacted by initiative petition on November 7, 2023
Citations were checked against the linked pages on October 24, 2026. Claims without a statute, election result, regulator page, court opinion, or news report were left out.