Ohio’s Division of Cannabis Control (DCC) has nearly doubled the number of approved applications for marijuana retail licenses, while simultaneously capping the number of cannabis retail outlets in the state’s three largest cities.
While approving 121 new store applications, the DCC ruled that 47 of these retailers cannot open in Franklin, Cuyahoga, or Hamilton counties, which encompass Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati. The DCC determined that these areas already have adequate retail presence, and no new licenses will be approved for the foreseeable future.
The newly approved permits are part of the state’s “10(B) license” program, which allows licensed growers and retailers to expand operations. The approvals come in addition to the 123 medical marijuana dispensaries that began selling adult-use products on Aug. 6.
More than half of the new licenses are located in the restricted counties, which currently have 28 active cannabis retailers.
According the DCC, there was $67,320,029 worth of legal marijuana sold between August 6, the start of recreational marijuana sales, and August 31. The majority of these sales —$44,051,671— were purchased for recreational consumption, with licensed medical marijuana patients purchasing $23,268,358 worth during the same period.
Ohio’s recreational marijuana law, which took effect on December 7, allows individuals aged 21 and older to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and 15 grams of marijuana concentrates. The state’s Division of Cannabis Control, part of the Department of Commerce, oversees the licensing and regulation of the marijuana industry. A detailed map listing all dispensaries that are currently selling medical marijuana can be found on the DCC’s website by clicking here.
