Lake County Times

COLUMBUS – With strong sales and stock levels, Ohio’s rollout of adult-use cannabis continues its safe and successful launch, announced State Representative Jamie Callender (R-Concord). Following the start of adult-use sales on August 6th, Ohio has completed three weeks of adult-use sales across the state with continued license approval and regulatory oversight.

According to the Division of Cannabis Control, Ohio has approved 120 dual-use dispensary licenses, 36 dual-use cultivator licenses, and 41 dual-use processors as of August 14th. This leaves five processors, one provisional and four medical licensees, one provisional medical cultivator, and fifteen provisional dispensaries without dual-use licenses.

“Ohio has not arrived here by accident,” said Tom Haren, Spokesperson for OHCANN. “OHCANN members alongside the Division of Cannabis Control have put in months of effort to ensure this rollout was done responsibly and swiftly for Ohioans. There is still work to be done. Our members are committed to continuing to move our industry and state forward, allowing citizens access to safe and tested products while communities reap the economic benefits.”

As of August 26th, the Division of Cannabis Control has reported $32,967,100 in total product sales for adult-use cannabis across 410,987 receipts. During the third week of sales, the Division has reported a total of 1,185 pounds of plant material and 161,250 units of manufactured product for a total of $10.5 million in sales. The medical program has reported $23.5 million in sales since the beginning of adult-use sales.

“Since Issue 2 passed last November, Buckeye Relief and Amplify dispensaries have been preparing to respond to the increased demand for safe, tested legal marijuana products by ramping up production and hiring over 75 new team members across our cultivation, processing and dispensary licenses,” said Andy Rayburn, CEO and co-founder of Buckeye Relief and Amplify. “We are committed to keeping lines at our Amplify stores short, product inventory full, and providing excellent customer service to educate Ohio’s new marijuana consumers and registered patients.”

“The transition to adult use has been fun and exciting for both customers and staff,” said James Russell, General Manager of Bliss Ohio. “After working closely with state and local regulators, the rollout at Bliss Ohio has been smooth since day one. With helpful guidelines put in place by the Division of Cannabis Control, Bliss has access to plenty of high-quality supply allowing us to offer our customers a selection of unique offerings at a fair price.”

Additional aspects of Issue 2 still await implementation including several rules packages currently under review by the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR), the Common Sense Initiative (CSI), and out for public comment by the Division of Cannabis Control.

“Following the passage of Issue 2 there were concerns that the rollout of adult use cannabis would lead to a lack of supply for our existing medical program and high pricing driving people back into the black market,” said Callender. “The first three weeks have demonstrated not only Ohio’s competitive marketplace but a robust supply chain enabling both adult use customers to purchase product and medical patients to fill their prescriptions.”