COLUMBUS, Ohio – Recreational marijuana sales are getting closer to reality in Ohio.
The state Division of Cannabis Control began accepting applications Friday for new dual licenses that will allow existing medical marijuana dispensaries to also sell nonmedical cannabis.
Friday was the deadline for applications to be made available, a provision of a statute that began in 2023 and was overwhelmingly approved by Ohio voters. With the measure, Ohioans over the age of 21 could immediately legally grow and own marijuana for adult use at home, but there is still no place in the state to buy it legally.
State regulators aren’t saying how long license approvals might take, but those who helped set the rules for the program believe the first sales could come as early as mid-June. That’s because obtaining a dual license will allow Ohio’s network of about 132 medical marijuana dispensaries to begin selling these same products simply for fun.
An industry representative told lawmakers last month that many stores are busy preparing for conversion.
“We are very excited about Ohio. Population of ten million people here in the state, so it’s a great opportunity for us,” said Trip McDermott, Verano’s chief operating officer, at the company’s cultivation facility in Canton.
O new law allows adults 21 and older to purchase and possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis and grow up to six plants per individual or 12 plants per household at home. It gave the state nine months to establish a system for legal marijuana purchases, subject to a 10% tax. Revenue from sales will be divided between administrative costs, addiction treatment, municipalities with dispensaries and payment for social equity programs and jobs that support the cannabis industry itself.
It remains subject to change by state lawmakers. A Senate bill introduced last month proposes to prohibit smoking or vaporizing marijuana products in public and would require home growers to submit sworn statements to the Division of Cannabis Control. Lawmakers also discussed setting other limits on the state’s new recreational marijuana program, including adding protections against advertising directed at children.
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