Ohio Opens Applications for Recreational Marijuana Sales Licenses

Ohio is one step closer to launching recreational marijuana sales under a legalization measure approved by voters last November. The Division of Cannabis Control (DCC) is now officially accepting applications for existing medical cannabis dispensaries to obtain dual licenses, allowing them to serve both patients and adult consumers. The application process opened on Friday, following the release of informational materials outlining the regulatory requirements that must be met to be eligible for the hybrid license.

Timeline for Adult-Use Sales

The sooner applications are completed and requirements are met, the sooner adult-use marijuana sales can start. However, DCC Superintendent James Canepa says the exact timeline remains unclear. Canepa, who previously served as the state’s top alcohol regulator, has suggested that businesses with dual licenses approved could begin selling to patients and recreational consumers as early as this month. DCC Public Information Officer Jamie Crawford noted that applications will be reviewed and processed roughly in the order they are received, with no specific start date for sales.

Priority for Cultivators and Processors

A FAQ posted by regulators indicates that applications from cultivators, processors, and testing laboratories will receive priority to ensure an efficient supply chain. Dispensaries with dual licenses will need to maintain an adequate supply of cannabis to avoid shortages for medical patients. Each dispensary must determine the appropriate amount of supply to meet this requirement. The applications for dual licenses are opening 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.

Legislative and Regulatory Updates

Gov. Mike DeWine, who does not personally support legalization, has criticized the delay in access to regulated products since voters approved the measure and possession became legal in December. Legislative leaders have discussed various changes to the law to expedite sales, but disagreements within the GOP-controlled legislature have stalled these plans. The Senate passed an amendment package prior to legalization taking effect, but the House has not yet taken it up. Meanwhile, regulators have worked to finalize adult-use market regulations and implemented a change in February allowing medical marijuana patients and caregivers to obtain or renew registrations for only one penny, a fee that was then eliminated entirely last month.

Governor’s Call for Legislative Action

Governor DeWine has pressed the legislature to enact changes to expedite recreational marijuana sales, emphasizing the need for regulatory action on intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids like delta-8 THC. “This is time for the legislature to move,” the governor said during his State of the State address, indicating that immediate legislative action is necessary to address these issues.