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Over 121 Places in Ohio Ban Legal Cannabis — Here’s What You Need to Know

A commercial cannabis grow
A commercial cannabis grow facility unknown location

July 24, 2025

By Mastamynd


Over 121 Places in Ohio Ban Legal Cannabis — Here’s What You Need to Know


Ohio voters passed Issue 2 in November 2023, legalizing recreational cannabis for adults 21 and older. But since then, more than 121 places in Ohio—including cities, townships, and villages—have banned or paused recreational cannabis sales. That includes everything from Cleveland suburbs to rural municipalities, and most people don’t realize it’s happening. These bans are blocking access, silencing the will of the voters, and fragmenting the legal market.


The Numbers You Need to Know


  • The Moritz College of Law’s Drug Enforcement and Policy Center at Ohio State says over 135 municipalities have enacted bans or moratoriums on adult-use cannabis businesses.

  • Health Policy Institute of Ohio reported that as of June 2024, more than 50 towns had bans in place.

  • Axios Cleveland confirmed that over 100 suburbs—Beachwood, Strongsville, Westlake, and more—are enforcing these bans.

  • WCHS News compiled a list of 55 places banning adult-use sales, including Ashland, Kettering, Troy, and Xenia.



Beyond the Buzz: Who’s Banning Weed—And Why?


This isn’t limited to small towns. Here are some of the mix:


Northeast Ohio – Beachwood, Independence, North Olmsted, Strongsville, Westlake

Central Ohio – Powell, New Albany, Westerville, Delaware

Southwest Ohio – Beavercreek, Kettering, Centerville, Xenia, Troy

Others – Hudson, Lakewood, Marysville, Upper Arlington, Loveland


Their reasons range from “need to study impacts” to “protect community values,” masking stigma under public-safety talk.


Why This Should Matter to You


  1. It cancels your vote


    Ohioans voted 57 percent in favor. These local bans erase that.

  2. It creates cannabis deserts


    Residents in banned zones must drive far for legal access.

  3. It keeps the black market alive


    Legal access shut? People go back to street sources.

  4. It shuts down local economic growth


    No dispensaries, no jobs, no new tax revenue per adult-use 10 percent tax.



Mastermind’s Take


We won legalization—but now access depends on zip codes and local boards. That’s not legalization. That’s bureaucracy with backward priorities. Towns that allow alcohol outlets and liquor ads acting like weed is a crisis—that’s hypocrisy.


Patients, consumers, and advocates need to ask: whose interests are being protected? Not ours, and not Ohio’s.


The Final Blaze


Here’s what you can do right now:


  • Check if your city, township, or village is banned—then get curious.

  • Attend a city council meeting and demand your area reverse the ban.

  • Elect local leaders who support regulated cannabis access.

  • Support towns that support cannabis—shop there, invest there.

  • Join us at the Ohio Cannabis Town Hall in Columbus to take action.



Ohio Cannabis Town Hall

September 6, 2025

3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Columbus Metropolitan Library – Main Branch Auditorium

824 E. Long St, Columbus, OH 43203

RSVP to the Ohio Cannabis Townhall click here


This is your shot to be heard by patients, consumers, lawmakers, and industry leaders—all in one room. We’re building strategy, awareness, and accountability—and we need you there.


About the Author


Mastamynd lives with a traumatic brain injury, severe daily pain, and was one of the first legal medical cannabis patients in Ohio. He founded Ohio Cannabis Live in 2019 to fight misinformation, educate consumers, and drive policy change. Since then, he’s created over 1,300 blog posts, thousands of videos, and hosts a weekly live stream every Friday at 4:20 p.m. He also organizes town halls across the state to connect voices, hold officials accountable, and build real cannabis access in Ohio.

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