Ohio Senate Votes to Confine Intoxicating Hemp to Dispensaries, Make Sales 21+

A bill banning intoxicating hemp products from being sold in gas stations, convenience stores or anywhere else outside of a licensed dispensary passed the Ohio Senate 33-0 this week.

The bill, Senate Bill 86, now heads to the Ohio House for further consideration. It’s the latest in a growing line of otherwise stalled attempts to regulate intoxicating hemp in Ohio.

Such products are often sold in gas stations, convenience stores or CBD stores, and have frequently been targeted by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and other opponents for their potential appeal to children through colorful packaging and subliminal branding.

Under S.B. 86, those products could only be sold by licensed cannabis dispensaries, with a 10% tax that matches the tax Ohio currently has on recreational marijuana.

Apply Now for FY26 DART Grant Funding 

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the Drug Abuse Response Team (DART) grant program, which helps address drug addictions, overdoses and deaths within Ohio communities.

The DART program supports collaborative partnerships between local law enforcement, behavioral-health treatment providers, and others to assist in the creation or continuation of a law enforcement diversion program to address opioid addiction. The grant can be used to reimburse some of the personnel costs and other expenses associated with the response team.

The application period for the FY26 grant cycle is now open, with submissions due by Friday May 30, 2025. An interactive grant application can be downloaded here.

Completed applications should be submitted via email to Mary Lynn Plageman at [email protected].

For FY24, DART awards totaled $1.5 million and went to 25 local agencies throughout Ohio that operate quick-response teams. The grants ranged from $18,200 to $93,000 per agency.

Upcoming Educational Events from OPEN MINDS

Navigating the current and potential changes to health and human services has become a full-time role. The good news is you have OPEN MINDS as a partner to support you. 

May 1 – 1pm EST – Virtual Roundtable – Shaping The Future: Health Care Policy & Market Trends in 2025

• Understanding how market factors - policy changes, new technologies, new competition - will impact your communities and being prepared are critical to sustainability and growth. Join us May 1 at 1pm EST for our executive roundtable, Shaping The Future: Health Care Policy & Market Trends In 2025 featuring OPEN MINDS’ Monica E. Oss, Chief Executive Officer; Paul Duck, Chief Strategy Officer; and Jonathan Evans, Senior Associate for a discussion on up-to-the-minute changes shaping the health and human services landscape.  This session provides the intel and insights to prepare for challenges and embrace opportunities. Attendees will also have access to the OPEN MINDS eBook, Successfully Managing Through Chaos, which outlines an actionable framework. This session is free to attend but does require a free Circle account.

The 2025 OPEN MINDS Strategy & Innovation Institute - June 10-12, 2025 @ New Orleans, Louisiana

• The Innovation You Need To Thrive During Chaos. Join us in New Orleans for three days of executive education. Join over 400 peers from 150+ organizations for the only executive event dedicated to helping organizations serving complex consumers navigate chaos through innovative service delivery models, streamlined communication with key stakeholders, and improved relationships with payers and legislators. This year’s event is focused on informing leaders of not only critical issues, but also innovative solutions, including the latest in whole-person care strategies, marketing and messaging tools, strategies for growing health plan revenue and relationships, updates on crisis systems, and addressing social determinants of health through large-scale housing initiatives, and much more. Registration includes The Autism & I/DD Executive Summit and Pitch Day, as well as two half-day hands-on seminars. 

Follow the OMM Coalition on Social Media 

The Ohio Medicaid Matters Coalition is now officially on social media and their digital ads will be starting soon. In an effort to expand OMM's social media presence, we ask that you follow us on X and Instagram AND share these social media address. 

Here are the handles for X and IG:

X: @OMMCoalition

IG: @OhioMedicaidMatters

Learn about the Ohio Medicaid Matters Coalition:

The Ohio Medicaid Matters Coalition is committed to promoting Medicaid as a foundation of health and economic stability, recognizing that access to healthcare empowers Ohioans to work, contribute and drive economic growth. 

What's Happening:

• As currently proposed, "shall" trigger language in the 2026-27 Ohio budget would immediately discontinue medical assistance for Ohio’s Medicaid expansion group if federal funding dips below 90%.

Why it Matters:

• 770,000+ Ohioans would immediately lose coverage — 94% of whom are employed, in school, taking care of family, in a treatment program or dealing with physical or mental health illness.

What We're Asking: 

• We want as many Ohioans as possible to have the healthcare they need to work and thrive. That's why we're asking lawmakers to enable flexibility and change the trigger language in the budget bill from "shall" to "may."