State officials told some medical marijuana dispensaries on Friday that they can start selling recreational cannabis products on Aug. 6, according to the Ohio Cannabis Coalition (OHCANN).
At least 20 medical dispensaries in Cuyahoga County received provisional licenses for recreational sales in recent weeks. The state on Friday afternoon had not released the names of those granted certificates of operation.
“It was expected that this would happen,” said Tom Haren, spokesperson for the coalition. “We did not know that it would happen today.”
In May, a state representative got everyone excited with hints that existing medical marijuana dispensaries could be cleared to sell recreational cannabis products by July 4. That didn’t happen. But his optimism was based on the efficient work of the state’s Division of Cannabis Control. The DCC, part of the Ohio Department of Commerce, sets policies for recreational marijuana sales as dictated in Issue 2, the 2023 voter-approved law that legalized recreational sales and use.
DCC is “months ahead” of the schedule set by Issue 2, Haren said. This week some dispensaries that already sell medical marijuana got word that the agency approved their applications to sell recreational marijuana to adults.
“We are easily three or four months ahead of schedule,” Haren said, “and that’s really a testament to the hard work of the division staff, as well as OHCANN members that have been working with the division on promulgating rules and the process for licensure of dual-use dispensaries.”
Since July, the DCC granted provisional licenses to more than 100 dispensaries across the state. (You can search for them by name or location on this page.) When those dispensaries receive their certificates of operation, they will show up on this interactive map. The first tab allows you to sort by county, and the last one by license. “Dual use” means the dispensary can sell medical and recreational marijuana products.
The next phase of license approvals will be for new, recreational-only dispensaries. Haren expects the state to begin issuing those provisional licenses in a few weeks. The owners of those dispensaries will then have to work with local officials on permits for building or renovating their spaces and hire staff.
Haren, who also worked on the Issue 2 campaign, said he’s “grateful” to the voters who passed the law and to the DCC.
The DCC “rolled out this program quickly, but they’ve done it with a continued emphasis on consumer safety and consumer protection,” he said. “So I think what you will see is a very well-regulated adult use program here in Ohio that is really going to be a marquee model for states to follow in the future.”