The five changes that touch patients
Senate Bill 56 of the 136th General Assembly took effect on March 20, 2026, according to the DCC. For medical patients, five changes stand out.
- THC caps. ORC 3796.06(E) caps THC at 35% for plant material and 70% for extracts. The DCC may raise the extract cap by rule.
- Original packaging for edibles. ORC 3796.06(H) requires patients and caregivers to keep edibles in their original packaging when not in use. Adult-use consumers face the same rule.
- Intoxicating hemp moved behind the dispensary counter. Hemp products with more than 0.4 mg of total THC per container now count as marijuana and can only be sold at licensed dispensaries.
- Public use bans restated. Smoking, combustion or vaporization of adult-use marijuana, and vaporization of medical marijuana, are allowed only on private residential or agricultural property. Smoking medical marijuana remains prohibited outright.
- One chapter of law. The old adult-use chapter, ORC 3780, was merged into Chapter 3796, the medical chapter. Older articles that cite 3780 section numbers point to the pre-SB 56 law.
What stayed the same
| Item | Status after SB 56 |
|---|---|
| Registration fee | $0 to activate or renew (DCC FAQ) |
| 10% adult-use excise | Kept; medical purchases still exempt |
| Telehealth visits | Still allowed under OAC 4731-32-03 |
| Who recommends | MDs and DOs with a Certificate to Recommend |
| Smoking medical marijuana | Still prohibited (ORC 3796.06(C)(1)) |
| Employment | No protection; ORC 3796.28 lets employers act on any marijuana use |
| Home grow | 6 plants per adult, 12 per household, per the DCC FAQ citing the post-SB 56 law |
Want the full picture of how these rules apply day to day? Our Ohio patient rules page pulls them together.
Need the recommendation part done?
In Ohio the physician starts your Registry file, so the visit comes first. Online evaluations are available for Ohio residents, and code DRWDY85872 takes 5% off. Registration itself is free.
Start my Ohio evaluation →The hemp change, explained for patients
SB 56 drew a hard line: any hemp product with more than 0.4 mg total THC per container is now treated as marijuana, and only licensed dispensaries may sell it. Gas stations, convenience stores and smoke shops are not licensed dispensaries. For patients, the practical effect is simple: if you used those products, the legal place to buy similar items is now a dispensary, where your medical exemption from the 10% excise applies. Our dispensary guide links the official map.
What we did not include, and why
Several summaries of SB 56 describe further changes, including new penalties, vehicle transport rules and changes to how excise revenue is shared. Those details come from a law firm presentation, not from the statute or a state agency page we could read. We have left them out rather than repeat them as fact. If one of them matters to you, check the current text of ORC Chapter 3796 or ask the DCC helpline at 1-833-464-6627.
Other recent changes worth knowing
SB 56 was the biggest change this year, not the only one. A short timeline from DCC sources:
- February 29, 2024: telehealth allowed for establishing the physician relationship.
- March 4, 2024: patient and caregiver fees cut from $50 and $25 to $0.01; the DCC FAQ now lists no cost.
- August 6, 2024: first adult-use sales at dual-use dispensaries.
- December 20, 2024: revised patient and caregiver rules (OAC 1301:18-10-01 and -02).
- November 3, 2025: dispensaries could start using updated return procedures, with at least a 30-day window for recalled, defective, mismatched or mislabeled products.
- January 15, 2026: new cannabis advertising rules (OAC 1301:18-4-22).
The fee drop matters most for your budget; see the cost breakdown. Whether the card still makes sense alongside adult-use is on our medical vs. recreational page.
What to do differently now
Check your edibles: keep them in the dispensary packaging. If you relied on hemp THC from a convenience store, switch to a licensed dispensary. And if you assumed adult-use legalization relaxed the medical smoking ban, it did not. Your job is not protected either, as our employment page explains.
Questions people ask
Did SB 56 bring back a registration fee?
No. The DCC FAQ, which already reflects SB 56, still says there is no activation or renewal cost for patient and caregiver registration.
Did SB 56 change the 10% excise?
No. SB 56 kept the 10% adult-use excise, and medical purchases remain exempt from it, according to the DCC.
Where can I read the law itself?
SB 56 amended Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3796. The sections on forms, THC caps, packaging and public use are in ORC 3796.06.
Next on your checklist
Sources
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This page summarizes Ohio rules in plain language and is not medical or legal advice; the Division of Cannabis Control, the State Medical Board of Ohio and your recommending physician have the final word.