The Ohio House passed SB 56 by 87-8 on October 22, 2025, Signal Ohio reported. The package covers recreational marijuana sales and intoxicating hemp products, and would allow expungement of past convictions for possessing less than 2.5 ounces of marijuana.
Applicants would file in the court of conviction and pay a $50 fee, and county prosecutors could object for any reason. Judges would hold a hearing 45 to 90 days after filing and generally grant the application unless a prosecutor objects. One Democrat criticized the $50 fee and wanted automatic expungement, and the House and Senate still had to agree on final language.
Why it matters: Expungement would be by application, with a fee and a possible prosecutor objection. The final law may differ from this article.
Source: Signal Ohio, 2025-10-23. Forgotten Prisoner's account is based on this reporting.