Politics
Ohio Officials Post New Rules For Marijuana Packaging And Labeling Requirements As Market Expands
Ohio regulators have filed new proposed rules to build upon the state’s marijuana legalization law, laying out plans to update regulations on labeling and packaging requirements.
In a rule package that’s now open for public comment, the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) put forward six proposals under the state’s Common Sense Initiative (CSI), which is meant to “eliminate excessive and duplicative rules and regulations that stand in the way of job creation.”
One of the proposed rules would require cannabis packaging to display a “universal THC symbol” that would aim to ensure consumer and law enforcement awareness that the product contains licensed and regulated THC.
Another rule would prescribe limitations on the amount of marijuana that could be sold within a given container. DCC also proposed setting requirements to ensure that certain packaging and labeling standards are met, including child-resistant materials for cannabis, before they are distributed for commercial sales.
An additional rule would prevent “using a package that is attractive to children, false or misleading, obscene, a health-related statement, or encourages over consumption or intoxication, among other prohibitions.”
“The rule also specifically prohibits cannabis products that reference or resemble cartoon characters, fictional characters, or pop culture icons whose target audience is children or youth,” it says.
A proposed rule on single-serve products stipulates that licensed processors must abide by “certain state-required testing, packaging, and labeling requirements for raw and infused single serving units intended for direct customer sale.”
A public comment period on the rule package is open until October 13.
The proposal comes weeks after Ohio medical and adult-use marijuana sales officially crossed $3 billion, data from the state Department of Commerce (DOC) shows.
The state sold about $703 million in recreational cannabis in the law’s first year of implementation, according to DCC data.
Voters approved a ballot initiative to legalize adult-use marijuana in November 2023, and lawmakers have since taken a series of steps aimed at revising the law. However, that’s been met with pushback and the legislature has so far been unable to reach consensus to meaningfully alter the law.
Last-minute disagreements between the House and Senate Republicans seemed to have derailed that plan.
After taking public testimony and adopting certain changes to Senate-passed cannabis legislation, SB 56, the House Judiciary Committee ultimately declined to advance the proposal as scheduled at a June hearing, making it so the measure couldn’t advance to a floor vote.
Changes approved at a hearing late in May rolled back some of the strict limits included in a version of the measure passed by the Senate in February, including a criminal prohibition on sharing marijuana between adults on private property.
In March, a survey of 38 municipalities by the Ohio State University’s (OSU) Moritz College of Law found that local leaders were “unequivocally opposed” to earlier proposals that would have stripped the planned funding.
—
Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.
Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.
—
Meanwhile in Ohio, adults as of June are able to buy more than double the amount of marijuana than they were under previous limits, with state officials determining that the market can sustainably supply both medical cannabis patients and adult consumers.
Gov. Mike DeWine (R) in March separately announced his desire to reallocate marijuana tax revenue to support police training, local jails and behavioral health services. He said funding police training was a top priority, even if that wasn’t included in what voters passed in 2023.
Ohio’s Senate president has also pushed back against criticism of the Senate bill, claiming the legislation does not disrespect the will of the electorate and would have little impact on products available in stores.
Separately, lawmakers are considering legislation to restrict intoxicating hemp products.
DeWine has repeatedly asked lawmakers to regulate or ban intoxicating hemp products such as delta-8 THC.
