Adult Use Sales Commence in Ohio

COLUMBUS—272 days after the Ohio voters passed Issue 2 with 57% of the vote, Ohio has begun the sale of adult-use cannabis, announced State Representative Jamie Callender (R-Concord). 98 existing medical dispensaries have been issued dual-use licenses by the Division of Cannabis Control, enabling the sale of adult-use products alongside medical cannabis. 

Ohio joins 23 other states and the District of Columbus, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands in allowing for full adult-use of cannabis. 13 additional states allow for the sale of cannabis for medical purposes. According to the PEW Research Center, this equates to 54% of Americans living in a state with both adult-use and medical cannabis sales and 74% living in a state with medical sales.

In addition to the 98 dispensaries, the Division of Cannabis Control has issued dual-use licenses to 6 testing labs, 29 cultivators, and 31 processors. A total of 7 testing labs, 37 cultivators, and 42 processors have applied for dual-use licenses with an additional 134 dispensaries awaiting the issuance of a dual-use license. 

“Nine months ago, millions of Ohioans overwhelmingly said ‘yes’ to ending marijuana prohibition and implementing a legal non-medical marijuana program,” said Tom Haren, Spokesperson for OHCANN.  Today those voices have been heard and Ohioans 21 years and older now have access to marijuana products that are regulated, tested, and taxed,” says OHCANN Spokesperson Tom Haren. “The rollout process will take time, but our state has committed to developing a program that will be a model for other states to emulate in the future.”

To commemorate the start of adult use-sales, Representative Callender joined other enthusiasts at Amplify in Cleveland Heights for a ribbon cutting and to be the first customer. Representative Callender purchased Willie’s Reserve, a strand of cannabis grown and processed in Eastlake, Ohio by Buckeye Relief. 

“We are so excited to bring clean, tested, legal marijuana products to the people of Ohio who have been forced to purchase undependable, illegal product until today,” said Andy Rayburn, CEO and co-founder of Buckeye Relief and Amplify. “Our Buckeye Relief products are the best in Ohio and the care and individual service that we offer at our Amplify dispensaries to medical patients and our new non-medical customers is surpassed by none. We want to give Rep. Callender a huge thanks for steadfastly working for decades to get to this historic day.”

“Over 40 years ago I began advocating for the legalization of adult-use cannabis in Ohio,” said Callender. “Today, I join thousands of Ohioans in enjoying the hard-fought right to purchase adult use cannabis. I want to thank the staff at the Division of Cannabis Control for their efforts to implement the will of the voters and the members of the cannabis industry whose commitment to quality and safety helped pave the way to adult-use sales.” 

Additional parts of Issue 2 await implementation and completion of the rule making process as stand-alone adult-use licenses still need to be created.