COLUMBUS, OH (June 25, 2024) – The Ohio Division of Cannabis Control has recently awarded approximately 60 dual-use provisional licenses to various medical marijuana dispensaries, cultivators, laboratories, and processors, as revealed in the state’s online database. These licenses mark a significant step toward the establishment of a recreational marijuana market in Ohio.
Among the recipients, 31 dispensaries, 15 cultivators, 11 processors, and five laboratories were granted licenses. Despite this progress, it remains unclear when recreational marijuana sales will officially commence in the Buckeye State.
Ohio voters legalized recreational marijuana for adults 21 and over last year through Issue 2, a citizen initiative that passed with 57% of the vote. At the time, proponents of Issue 2 anticipated that the first round of licenses would not be issued until August. However, the process has moved more quickly, with license applications opening earlier this month and requiring approval or denial by September 7.
Under the provisions of Issue 2, Ohioans are permitted to grow up to six marijuana plants individually, with a maximum of 12 plants per household. Since the legalization, Ohio lawmakers have been actively working to structure the accompanying laws, creating a landscape of uncertainty for law enforcement, the judicial system, and various employment sectors in Ohio.
As the state navigates these changes, stakeholders and residents alike await further developments and the official start of recreational marijuana sales.
For more details, visit the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control’s website.
