80 Ohio Cannabis Dispensaries Nearly Ready For Recreational Sales

COLUMBUS – The Ohio Division of Cannabis Control had issued provisional licenses to 80 cannabis dispensaries looking to sell both medical and adult-use marijuana, including 26 in Northeast Ohio.

But those dual-use licenses are just placeholders, and don’t allow them to start selling it. There’s still more regulatory legwork before they get the green light to actually open for business, and there’s no telling when your local shop can start selling to non-medical consumers.

Before issuing the certificate of operation allowing them to begin selling recreational marijuana, Ohio’s newly formed Division of Cannabis Control is ensuring inspection requirements are met and that dispensaries’ point-of-sale systems can distinguish between medical and non-medical cannabis sales and also charge the state’s 10% excise tax.

Those certificates will be issued to dispensaries in “roughly the order” their applications were received, said division spokesperson James Crawford. So far, none have been issued.

“It’s important to keep in mind that, based on the criteria above, there will be no one singular day when sales begin. We will start issuing licenses and it will be up to the retailer based on staffing, stock and other considerations as to which day they will begin sales,” he said. “Given the foundation already laid through the Medical Marijuana Control Program, current medical permit holders positioned to apply for dual-use status who have already undergone many of the comprehensive checks are anticipated to have a much quicker turnaround for issuance of licenses over the summer.”

The state must start issuing certificates to qualified shops by Sept. 7, under the rules outlined in the state’s new legal cannabis statute.

Voters in November approved Issue 2, making it legal in Ohio for those age 21 and older to possess up to 2 1/2 ounces of cannabis flower and up to 15 grams of extract. It also allows Ohioans to grow up to six cannabis plants per household, or up to 12 plants if there are two or more adults in the home.