Ohio recreational cannabis sales double that of medical marijuana

Ohio adult-use marijuana stores have racked up $600 million in sales since the market launched in Aug. 2024, recent data shows.

And so far, customers are buying twice as much cannabis from adult-use stores as they are from MMJ dispensaries, according to Columbus-based NBC-4.

Existing MMJ dispensaries were first in line to start selling to all adults 21 and over on Aug. 6, 2024.

Across the state, stores have recorded on average about $1.8 million in recreational marijuana sales per day, according to state data.

By comparison, medical marijuana sales have averaged about $925,000 per day over the past six years.

MMJ sales may exceed $481 million in 2025, according to an MJBiz Factbook projection. Recreational sales are projected to hit $650 million.

There are currently 153 licensed “dual-use” dispensaries in the state, according to recent state Department of Commerce data.

Efforts to add new permits via a marijuana social-equity program have stalled.

Meanwhile, both cannabis industry operators and lawmakers remain concerned about intoxicating hemp products containing Delta-8 or Delta-9 THC.

Lawmakers failed to pass proposed legislation that would have restricted sales of intoxicating hemp products to licensed cannabis stores.

Ohio lawmakers failed to make changes to the state’s recreational marijuana laws before going on their summer break.

Operators are hoping for stricter rules around intoxicating hemp as the market grows.

“While we would have hoped for stronger safeguards around intoxicating hemp products, we remain optimistic that Ohio’s regulatory approach will continue to evolve in the best interest of public health and consumer safety,” Story Cannabis CEO Jason Vedadi told NBC4.com.