Ohio’s First Adult-Use Marijuana Dispensaries Set To Open Next Week, State Officials Announce

Ohio’s adult-use marijuana market is set to launch next week, with state regulators confirming that they’re prepared to clear select businesses to open shop following inspections ensuring compliance with the state’s legalization law.

The Division of Cannabis Control (DCC) told Marijuana Moment on Friday that officials “intend to issue the first set of non-medical licenses on Tuesday”—adding that there “will be no sales over the weekend” and that they plan to make a formal announcement on Monday.

DCC’s statement comes after companies including Cresco Labs, Green Thumb Industries, Trulieve, The Cannabist and Verano disclosed that they’ve been told by regulators they will imminently receive certificates of operation to begin selling to patients and adult consumers alike starting on August 6.

“The first sales will take place Tuesday morning and we can’t wait to open our Sunnyside doors across Ohio to show consumers what regulated, adult-use cannabis looks like,” Jason Erkes, chief communications officer at Cresco, told Marijuana Moment on Friday. “I think they will be surprised.”

It’s not clear how many dispensaries with dual licenses will open next week, but this marks the culmination of a months-long process to implement the legalization law voters approved last November.

“Non-medical sales in Ohio have not yet begun because no dispensary has received their dual-use Certificate of Operation which is necessary in order to sell non-medical cannabis,” a DCC spokesperson told Marijuana Moment. “Once dispensaries receive their Certificate of Operation, the Division of Cannabis Control will be updating this map showing which dispensaries are open to adult-use customers. We will also issue additional information via a news release when COO’s become active.”

Ohio…. don’t look now, but adult use sales start Tuesday next week

LFG

Find your Rythm Ohio 🔥$GTBIF $MSOS 🇺🇸

— Ben Kovler (@Bkov9) August 2, 2024

DCC said adult-use consumers will soon be able to see a list of approved dispensaries on an online map.

“I can’t emphasize enough the work that [Ohio Cannabis Coalition] members alongside DCC have put in to bring us to this day,” OHCANN spokesperson Tom Haren, who led the campaign to pass a marijuana legalization initiative on the state’s ballot last year, said in a press release on Friday. “We are stepping into a new future for Ohio where citizens will have access to safe products and communities will feel the benefits of this growing industry through tax revenue and job opportunities.”

Ahead of the launch, regulators recently distributed supplemental guidance on the rules for opening day events, advertising and more.

Prior to the retailer licensing development, DCC started issuing the state’s first dual certificates of operation for marijuana growers, processors and testing labs in recent weeks so they could begin working with both medical and recreational cannabis.

One way that the division prepared prospective dual licensees on the retail end was by reminding them of what they can and can’t do to mark their opening day. For example, businesses cannot allow on-site consumption, offer samples (infused or non-infused), have music or food trucks outside the shop, promote the opening with celebratory decor on the exterior or hold a ribbon cutting ceremony outside.

Ohio, it’s official! 🎉 Starting August 6th, we launch adult use sales! 🌿✨ We’re beyond excited to celebrate this monumental milestone with our Ohio community. Get ready for a new era of freedom, choice, and quality products.

Read more: https://t.co/e8JOikvotl pic.twitter.com/Iczc1iIoyy

— Trulieve (@Trulieve) August 2, 2024

However, they are permitted to have music inside as long as it’s not a live performance. They can also offer complimentary non-alcoholic beverages and promote the opening by holding a ribbon cutting ceremony inside the dispensary.

Before a dispensary could secure a certification, applicants that received a provisional licenses needed to first prove that they’ve updated their point-of-sale technology to distinguish between medical cannabis and adult-use sales, enhance security and verify that they will be able to maintain an adequate supply for patients.

Before opening applications, regulators released informational materials to prepare prospective applicants, outlining regulatory requirements they must satisfy in order to be eligible for the hybrid license.

Applications for the dual licenses opened about a month after the legislature’s Joint Committee On Agency Rule Review (JCARR) gave final approval to the proposed cannabis regulations for the adult-use market under the legalization law voters passed last November.

Gov. Mike DeWine (R) doesn’t personally support legalization, but he’s repeatedly criticized the delay in access to regulated products since voters made that choice and possession became legal in December.

Legislative leaders had separately discussed putting together a bill to make various changes to the law, including expediting sales, but the plans have largely fallen apart amid disagreement within the GOP-controlled legislature.

The Senate did pass an amendment package just prior to legalization taking effect, but the House has not taken it up, nor has it moved to advance a different proposal that originate in the House. Senators also recently filed a separate bill to change various marijuana rules.

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Meanwhile, as regulators have worked to finalize regulations for the adult-use market, it already implemented a change in February that allows medical marijuana patients and caregivers to obtain or renew their registrations for only one penny. That fee was then totally eliminated with the adoption of a new rule at May’s JCARR meeting.

The fee elimination is part of an initial package of rules that DCC released in February to implement adult-use legalization.

Following voter approval of legalization at the ballot, the Department of Commerce was quick to publish an FAQ guide for residents to learn about the new law and timeline for implementation.

The governor, meanwhile, has previously pressed the legislature to enact changes to expedite recreational marijuana sales. But he’s indicated that his more immediate concern is regulating the sale of intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids such as delta-8 THC.

“This is time for the legislature to move,” the governor, who also raised the issue during his State of the State address in April, said. “We can’t do it ourselves.”

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