Ohioans will likely be able to legally purchase recreational marijuana sooner than initially expected.
The state Division of Cannabis Control recently granted approximately 60 momentary dual-use licenses to various medical marijuana dispensaries, growers, labs and processors, according to state online database. Licenses were granted to 31 dispensaries, 15 breeders, 11 processors and five laboratories.
However, according to an email from Jamie Crawford, spokesman for the Division of Cannabis Control, the momentary dual-use license does not automatically allow recreational marijuana sales.
Rather, it acts as a placeholder when a company seeks to obtain a Certificate of Operations by meeting various requirements, including conducting an inspection and demonstrating that employees can distinguish between medical and recreational sales.
“At this time, no certificates of operation have been issued to dispensaries to begin selling non-medical marijuana,” Crawford told the OCJ.
It’s arduous to determine when exactly recreational marijuana sales will begin in the Buckeye State.
“There won’t be one day when sales start,” Crawford said. “We will start issuing licenses, and what day sales start will depend on the retailer, based on staffing, inventory and other factors.”
Ohio legalized marijuana for people over 21 last year under Citizens’ Initiative No. 2, which received 57% of the vote. At the time, the writers of issue #2 were speculating first round of licenses it won’t be released until August.
License applications have been opened earlier this month and must be approved or rejected by September 7.
Under Problem 2, Ohioans can grow up to six crops, 12 per household.
The House and Senate had different ideas for changing marijuana legalization laws after the passage of House Bill 2 — lawmakers can do it through a citizen initiative — but neither proposal passed in the opposing chamber.
Follow the OCJ reporter Megan Henry on X
