STATES 2.0: state-law protections and federal limits
Proposed H.R. 2934 would protect qualifying state-law cannabis activity and interstate trade. It includes tribal conditions and no automatic expungement.
Independent cannabis-policy advocacy
Cannabis
law and
reform.
Check state cannabis laws, read legislative explainers, and contact your lawmakers about legalization, licensing, and record relief.
Independent advocacy · Latest reporting Nov 14, 2026
Official sources linked throughout.State law map ↓
State laws.Federal bills.Ohio policy.
50 + DC
State policy summaries.
20
Legislative explainers.
Ohio
Licensing, taxes, and record relief.
01 / State laws
Cannabis rules
by state.
Compare broad policy categories, then check your state's official guidance for eligibility, local rules, and current requirements.
24 adult-use states + D.C.
Authorization and access are different. Retail openings, local rules, and program limits still matter.
OH
Ohio
Adult-use authorized
Adult-use cannabis remains legal for adults 21 and older. SB56 is enacted and generally effective March 20, 2026; SB55 remains a proposal. Check current law for possession, home cultivation and other conditions.
Classification snapshot: Sep 2, 2026
Broad categories follow NCSL’s September 2, 2026 snapshot, with selected state updates reviewed November 13. “Limited access” includes narrow medical programs and prohibition frameworks. This overview is not a comprehensive audit of every state’s law. How we check our sources
02 / Legislation
Laws, bills,
and their limits.
Read 20 explainers on cannabis legalization, licensing, research, and record relief. Each distinguishes enacted law from proposals.
20 explainers · Latest reporting Nov 14, 2026
01 / Federal
Proposed · introduced April 17, 2025
H.R. 2934 · 119th Congress3 min read
02 / Federal
Proposed · introduced October 1, 2026
VA cannabis research: what H.R. 10655 would study
Proposed H.R. 10655 would study cannabis use among veterans with chronic pain or PTSD. It would not create a general VA prescribing program.
H.R. 10655 · 119th Congress3 min read
03 / Federal
Existing executive relief · DOJ certificate process available
Federal cannabis pardons do not erase conviction records
The 2022 and 2023 pardons cover specified federal and D.C. cannabis offenses. They do not erase convictions or cover state-law offenses.
Presidential Proclamations 10467 and 106883 min read
04 / New York
Enacted; equity and reinvestment implementation continues
New York cannabis equity licenses and reinvestment grants
New York’s enacted cannabis law sets equity-licensing goals and funds community reinvestment. Grant eligibility and payments have separate requirements.
MRTA · S854A/A1248A (2021), Chapter 923 min read
05 / Minnesota
Enacted; licensing and record review continue
Minnesota cannabis licensing and record relief
Minnesota’s 2023 law created cannabis licenses and record relief. Microbusiness applications were closed as reviewed; some records need board review.
HF100 (2023), Chapter 63 · Minnesota Statutes Chapter 3423 min read
06 / Delaware
Sales launched August 1, 2025; county reforms enacted July 1, 2026
Delaware cannabis sales, local permits, and equity grants
Delaware launched adult-use sales in 2025 and limited county restrictions in 2026. Local approvals and staged equity grants still affect access.
Delaware Marijuana Control Act · SB75 (2025-2026)3 min read
07 / Maryland
Enacted; first local reinvestment reports were due October 1, 2026
Maryland cannabis reinvestment: local plans and reporting
Maryland’s 2026 cannabis reinvestment rules require local plans, public input, and annual reports. License awards do not establish permission to operate.
HB556/SB516 (2023) · Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund3 min read
08 / California
Record-relief laws in effect
California cannabis conviction relief: checking your record
California’s cannabis relief laws require review of eligible convictions. Check the court’s order and state history to confirm how a record was changed.
Proposition 64 · AB 1793 · AB 17063 min read
09 / New Jersey
Microbusiness licensing framework in effect
New Jersey cannabis microbusiness licensing requirements
New Jersey’s cannabis microbusiness framework gives smaller applicants a licensing route and priority. Ownership rules and state and local approvals still apply.
CREAMM Act · N.J.A.C. 17:303 min read
10 / Ohio
Public-records law in effect
Follow Ohio's cannabis decisions through public records
Ohio cannabis licensing, tax payments, and local spending involve different records. Identify the public office that holds a record and make a specific request.
Ohio Revised Code 149.433 min read
11 / Federal
Final rule · limited scope
Schedule III: which medical cannabis the rule covers
Qualifying medical marijuana moved to Schedule III in April 2026. That did not legalize adult-use cannabis nationwide.
AG Order 6754-2026 · 91 FR 227143 min read
12 / Federal
Proposed · 119th Congress
CAOA: proposed descheduling, regulation, and record relief
Proposed S. 5022 would remove cannabis from federal drug schedules and establish regulation, record relief, and community investment.
S. 5022 · Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act3 min read
13 / Federal
Proposed · 119th Congress
SAFE Banking: proposed protections and their limits
Proposed S. 4942 and H.R. 9471 would protect banking services for state-sanctioned cannabis businesses. They would not require a provider to offer services.
S. 4942 / H.R. 9471 · SAFE Banking Act of 20263 min read
14 / Federal
Enacted · phased effective dates
Federal hemp changes: November and December 2026 deadlines
Federal hemp changes have phased dates: some exclusions began November 12, 2026. Most remaining changes are scheduled for December 11, 2026.
P.L. 119-37 §781 / P.L. 119-103 §20193 min read
15 / Ohio
Enacted; subsequently amended
Ohio Issue 2: legalization and later amendments
Ohio voters approved adult-use cannabis legalization in 2023. SB56 later amended the law, so current requirements differ from the original ballot text.
Issue 2 (2023)3 min read
16 / Ohio
Enacted
Ohio SB56: licensing, taxes, and expungement
Ohio’s 2026 SB56 overhaul changed licensing, excise-revenue distribution, and consumer rules. It also created an application-based expungement process.
SB56 · 136th General Assembly3 min read
17 / Ohio
Passed Senate; in House Judiciary
Ohio SB55: proposed changes to impairment evidence
SB55 would change how specified cannabis test results are used in Ohio impaired-driving cases. It has passed the Senate but has not become law.
SB55 · 136th General Assembly3 min read
18 / Pennsylvania
Proposal stalled
Pennsylvania SB 120: a stalled adult-use proposal
SB 120 would establish an adult-use cannabis system. The proposal has stalled; neither it nor competing HB 1200 has become law.
SB 120 · 2025-2026 session3 min read
19 / Virginia
Enacted · retail launch scheduled 2027
Virginia retail cannabis sales scheduled for July 2027
Virginia enacted a retail cannabis framework in June 2026. Sales are scheduled to begin July 1, 2027, with separate rollout dates for regulations, applications, and licenses.
HB 30 · 2026 Special Session I, Chapter 13 min read
20 / Georgia
In effect · July 1, 2026
Georgia SB220: medical cannabis expansion and limits
The Putting Georgia’s Patients First Act expanded medical access in 2026. It did not legalize adult-use cannabis.
SB 220 · Act 7123 min read
No explainers match those filters.
Try a broader term or clear the filters to explore all 20.
A proposal is not law. Each explainer distinguishes enacted changes from pending bills and links to its source record. Explore legalization sources
03 / Ohio policy
Ohio licensing
and cannabis
taxes.
OHSTATE POLICY
REVIEW.
REVIEW.
Ohio’s rules limit dispensaries, give local governments authority over cannabis businesses, and divide adult-use excise revenue between the state and host communities.
What SB56 changedWhat the record shows
Questions for Ohio residents.
Select a topic for your commentlicensing
Licensing costs
Which licensing costs or requirements most obstruct small and independent applicants, and what should change?
taxesTax spending
What should communities publish about cannabis-tax receipts and spending?
votersChanges to Issue 2
When lawmakers amend Issue 2, what should they publish to show how their changes respect the voters’ intent?
safetyImpairment evidence
How should Ohio protect road safety while requiring reliable evidence and fair procedures in cannabis-related impairment cases?
04 / Policy timeline
Legalization dates
and deadlines.
Selected state and federal changes since 1996, including scheduled implementation dates.
- 01State reform
California approves medical cannabis law
California voters approve Proposition 215, a state medical-cannabis law.
Source record - 02State reform
Colorado and Washington approve adult use
Colorado and Washington voters approve adult-use legalization measures.
Source record - 03Ohio
Ohio's medical law takes effect
House Bill 523 established Ohio's medical marijuana program; medical retail sales followed in January 2019.
Source record - 04Federal
Federal hemp framework enacted
The 2018 Farm Bill removes qualifying hemp from federal controlled-substance coverage and creates a national production framework. Later laws change the definition.
Source record - 05Federal
Cannabis research law enacted
The Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act becomes Public Law 117-215.
Source record - 06Ohio
Ohio voters approve Issue 2
About 57% voted to legalize and regulate adult-use cannabis. The initiated statute took effect December 7.
Source record - 07Ohio
Adult-use retail sales begin
Ohio's licensed non-medical cannabis market opens.
Source record - 08Ohio
Ohio SB56 takes effect
Most SB56 provisions take effect, including new licensing, revenue and expungement provisions.
Source record - 09Federal
Limited medical rescheduling takes effect
A final rule moves qualifying state-licensed medical marijuana and FDA-approved marijuana products to Schedule III. Other marijuana remains outside that limited change.
Source record - 10Federal
Hemp restrictions begin in stages
Exclusions begin for hemp-derived products containing cannabinoids that cannot naturally be produced by cannabis. Most remaining changes are delayed.
Source record - 11Scheduled / ahead
Next federal hemp deadline
Most remaining federal hemp-definition changes are scheduled to take effect, including total-THC requirements and the 0.4 mg threshold for covered final products, unless federal law changes.
Source record - 12Scheduled / ahead
Virginia retail sales scheduled
Retail sales are scheduled to begin July 1, 2027. This is a future implementation date.
Source record
Future milestones are scheduled under the records reviewed. Legislatures and agencies can change them.
05 / Contact lawmakers
Contact your
lawmakers.
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Federal / HouseFind your U.S. representativeFederal / SenateContact your U.S. senatorsState / OhioFind your state lawmakers
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06 / Discussion
Discuss cannabis
policy.
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