Ohio adult-use marijuana sales reached $22.5 million in the first 11 days since the market launched earlier this month, according to new data from the Division of Cannabis Control (DCC).
After selling $11.5 million in recreational marijuana during the first five days of the state’s first hybrid dispensaries opening, the state saw another $10.9 million in purchases in its first full week of adult-use sales.
The data indicates that Ohio is on track to surpass $1 billion in combined medical and adult-use marijuana sales within the first year of the recreational market implementation.
In total, Ohio retailers that recently received dual licenses sold 1,194 pounds of cannabis in the week ending August 17.
During the same seven-day time period, medical cannabis sales reached $7.6 million. To date, the state’s medical marijuana system has brought in more than $1.9 billion since it launched in January 2019.
The adult-use sales come from 120 dispensaries that have been granted certificates of operation for dual licenses.
DCC also provided an update on cannabis costs for consumers, noting that an average gram of marijuana is $9.40.
Ohio’s marijuana program did see an initial surge in recreational cannabis purchases in its first days, with one of the first customers being a Republican state legislator who bought a Willie Nelson-branded product.
Rep. Jamie Callender (R), who’s sponsored legislation to legalize marijuana in Ohio, became one of those early customers, purchasing Willie’s Reserve products on opening day.
Meanwhile, there are still 12 provisional dual dispensary licensees pending certificates of operation. DCC had said that remaining applicants likely submitted incomplete applications that will need to be resolved before they can start serving patients and adult consumers.
State regulators confirmed earlier this month that they were prepared to clear select businesses to open following inspections ensuring compliance with the state’s legalization law.
DCC also created an online map where adult-use consumers can view a list of approved dispensaries.
Before a dispensary can secure a certification, applicants that received a provisional licenses need to first prove that they’ve updated their point-of-sale technology to distinguish between medical cannabis and adult-use sales, enhance security and verify that they will be able to maintain an adequate supply for patients.
Prior to opening applications, regulators released informational materials to prepare prospective applicants, outlining regulatory requirements they must satisfy in order to be eligible for the hybrid license.
Applications for the dual licenses opened 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 under the legalization law voters passed last November.
Gov. Mike DeWine (R) doesn’t personally support legalization, but he’s repeatedly criticized the delay in access to regulated products since voters made that choice and possession became legal in December.
Legislative leaders had separately discussed putting together a bill to make various changes to the law, including expediting sales, but the plans have largely fallen apart amid disagreement within the GOP-controlled legislature.
The Senate did pass an amendment package just prior to legalization taking effect, but the House has not taken it up, nor has it moved to advance a different proposal that originate in the House. Senators also recently filed a separate bill to change various marijuana rules.
Meanwhile, as regulators have worked to finalize regulations for the adult-use market, it already implemented a change in February that allows medical marijuana patients and caregivers to obtain or renew their registrations for only one penny. That fee was then totally eliminated with the adoption of a new rule at May’s JCARR meeting.
The fee elimination is part of an initial package of rules that DCC released in February to implement adult-use legalization.
Following voter approval of legalization at the ballot, the Department of Commerce was quick to publish an FAQ guide for residents to learn about the new law and timeline for implementation.
The governor, meanwhile, has previously pressed the legislature to enact changes to expedite recreational marijuana sales. But he’s indicated that his more immediate concern is regulating the sale of intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids such as delta-8 THC.
“This is time for the legislature to move,” the governor, who also raised the issue during his State of the State address in April, said. “We can’t do it ourselves.”
Kyle Jaeger via (https://www.marijuanamoment.net/ohio-retailers-sold-22-5-million-worth-of-recreational-marijuana-in-first-11-days-of-legal-sales/)
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