COLUMBUS – Ohio has started doling out its first recreational marijuana licenses, revealing where Ohioans may soon be able to make their first purchases.

Why it matters: The regulatory process has been moving quickly since applications opened on June 7.

  • Some in the industry are speculating sales could begin in a matter of days.

How it works: The new dual-use licenses will allow existing medicinal marijuana dispensaries to also sell to recreational customers.

  • But before they can start, licensed businesses must clear one final hurdle by obtaining a separate state certificate of operation. None statewide had as of yesterday, a state Division of Cannabis Control spokesperson told Axios.
  • Requirements include: enhancing security, proving they can maintain an adequate supply for medical patients, and updating sales systems to distinguish between medical and recreational customers.

Zoom in: As of yesterday, 31 provisional dual-use licenses had been awarded to dispensaries statewide, including five in Columbus, per a searchable database.

  • Those locations: Verdant (1243 N. Cassady Ave.), Harvest (2950 N. High St.), Herbal Wellness Center (2950 E. Main St.), Trulieve (8295 Sancus Blvd.) and Main Street Medical Cannabis (3111 E. Main St.).
  • One is also approved in Newark (Verdant, at 1546 W. Church St.) and another in Fairfield County (Ascend, at 3560 Dolson Ct. in Carroll).

What’s next: There is no singular date when all recreational sales will start, as individual stores will decide when to begin selling as they’re approved.

What they’re saying: “We’ve worked with municipalities all over the country, and Ohio seems to be working at lightning-fast speed, issuing provisional licenses a week after applications were submitted,” a spokesperson with a multi-state operator told Marijuana Moment on Friday.

  • “We’ve never seen that anywhere.”

Between the lines: Lawmakers had discussed making changes to the marijuana legalization law voters approved in November, including speeding up licensing timelines, but that effort didn’t get anywhere.

  • A summer recess begins today.

What we’re watching: A lottery to determine the locations of the state’s first standalone recreational marijuana dispensaries is currently underway.

  • The state’s deadline for issuing all licenses is Sept. 7.

This story was published in Axios