Regulators affiliated with the Division of Cannabis Control announced Friday that they will begin issuing dual-use certificates of operation to eligible cannabis dispensaries on Tuesday, August 6th. Several retailers are anticipated to begin engaging in adult-use cannabis sales that same day.
The sales launch date is several weeks ahead of the state’s statutory deadline, September 7th.
“State officials are to be commended for moving this process along in a relatively expeditious manner,” NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano said. “Retailers provide consumers with the option of obtaining lab-tested products in a safe, regulated environment. The sooner consumers have market access to cannabis products, the more quickly we will begin to see disruptions to the unregulated marketplace.”
Adult-use marijuana sales will be subject to a ten percent excise tax in addition to an existing 5.75 percent sales tax. Sales are anticipated to generate between $276.2 million and $403.6 million in annual cannabis tax dollars within five years.
Voters in November approved a citizens-initiated measure (Issue 2) legalizing the possession, home cultivation, and retail sale of cannabis for those age 21 or older. Provisions in the initiative called upon regulators to begin issuing retail licenses by late 2024.
Following the vote, several of the state’s leading Republicans moved to pass legislation gutting many of the initiative’s key provisions. Those efforts stalled after NORML and other organizations generated thousands of communications urging legislators to enact Issue 2 as written.
A summary of Ohio’s adult-use legalization law is available from NORML.
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