Tips for new recreational marijuana users from an Ohio dispensary CEO
Sales of recreational marijuana are in full swing in Ohio. Nicole Stark, CEO of Bloom Medicinals in Columbus has tips and encouragement for new users.
Ohio has capped the number of marijuana dispensaries that can open around Columbus, Cincinnati and Cleveland after approving more than 100 new sites across the state.
The Division of Cannabis Control OK’d 121 locations as part of the 10(B) licensing process, which allows marijuana growers and certain dispensary owners to apply for more stores. The site applications are just one step in the process but signal that more dispensaries are on track to get preliminary state approval − also known as a provisional license.
The 10(B) dispensaries would be in addition to 123 stores already selling recreational marijuana to consumers age 21 and older. Adult-use sales launched at existing medical dispensaries in August, nine months after Ohioans voted to legalize cannabis.
The Division of Cannabis Control used a lottery system to approve the first wave of 10(B) dispensaries, which − barring a handful of exceptions − had to be more than 1 mile away from another store. Spokesperson Tom Brockman said the agency began notifying 10(B) applicants that they’ve qualified for a provisional license, but it was unclear how many had been issued as of Wednesday.
Over half of the 121 approved 10(B) sites are in Franklin, Cuyahoga and Hamilton counties. These stores will take longer to get off the ground than existing medical marijuana dispensaries: Operators must train employees, comply with zoning rules and security requirements, and verify that they’re at least 500 feet from a school, church, public park or library.
Another 47 applicants who still don’t have sites will enter the next phase of the process and must decide where they’d prefer to locate − but those stores can’t be in Franklin, Cuyahoga or Hamilton counties. The division reviewed the number of current and proposed dispensaries in those areas and decided more aren’t necessary at this point, when accounting for the consumer and patient population.
There are currently 28 dispensaries in Columbus, Cincinnati and Cleveland selling recreational and medical marijuana.
“I know our members are looking forward to getting their new dispensaries up and running as quickly as possible and to continue to serve non-medical cannabis consumers here in Ohio,” said Tom Haren, spokesman for the Ohio Cannabis Coalition, which represents marijuana businesses around the state. “As more and more dispensaries become operational, we’ll continue to see prices decline and availability of non-medical cannabis products increase.”
Where can I buy recreational marijuana in Ohio?
View the map below to see which dispensaries are licensed to sell adult-use and medical marijuana.
Haley BeMiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.
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Publish date : 2024-09-04 08:36:00
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