COLUMBUS, Ohio – Recreational marijuana sales ticked down for the second consecutive week since dispensaries began selling to adults age 21 and older.
Ohio dispensaries rang up $10,493,636 for recreational marijuana customers during the third week of sales, according to new Ohio Division of Cannabis Control data.
Dispensaries have sold a total of just under $33 million between the start of recreational sales on Aug. 6 and the end of Saturday, with a total of 410,987 receipts.
Sales during the third week, from Aug. 18 through Saturday, are lower than previous weeks. During the first five days of recreational marijuana, dispensaries sold $11.5 million. During the second week, Aug. 11-17, sales were $10.9 million.
Sales kicked off this month after voters approved a new state law in November legalizing recreational marijuana for those age 21 and older. Since December, Ohioans could grow their own marijuana in limited quantities, but dispensaries could not begin selling until Aug. 6.
The first dispensaries to begin recreational sales already were operating under Ohio’s existing rules for medical marijuana.
Medical sales held steady during the third week, at $7.6million. During the second week of adult-use sales, medical sales were just under $7.6 million. During the first five days, medical marijuana sales were $8.3 million.
State figures show that during the third week of sales, the average price of flower has decreased to $258.70 per ounce, down from the previous week’s $266.70. From Aug. 3, when dispensaries could only sell medical marijuana, to Aug. 10, when there had been five days of recreational sales, the average price per ounce was $265.90.
The average cost of a manufactured product in the third week was $31.57. This could include packages of gummies, vape cartridges, soft drinks, tinctures or lotions that are popular among medical patients. The products come in different sizes.
During the second week of sales, manufactured products averaged $31.65. From Aug. 3, when there were only medical sales, through Aug. 10, when there were medical and recreational sales, manufactured product averaged $31.57.
Laura Hancock covers state government and politics for The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com.