OHIO CANNABIS PROGRAM

OHIO

OVERVIEW

The state of Ohio legalized adult-use cannabis through ballot initiative, Issue 2, allowing for controlled and regulated sales and use of adult-use cannabis. The law provides a regulatory framework for cultivating, producing, and selling adult-use marijuana. Within nine months of the effective date of the law, if the license applicant is in compliance with the regulations, medical licenses will have the opportunity to convert to dual-use.

Ohio legalized medical cannabis in 2016, through a Legislative bill, House Bill 523, which provided a legal way for qualifying patients in the state to access and utilize medical cannabis as a form of treatment for their ailment. Access to medical cannabis is through state licensed businesses that are allowed to grow, manufacture and sell medical cannabis. The state accepted applications for medical cannabis businesses in 2017 and in 2019 medical sales began.

In 2021, the state amended its program to allow for 73 additional dispensary only licenses and accepted applications at the end of 2021.

To learn more, contact us

Hemp

Yes

Medical Marijuana

Yes

Adult Use

Yes

When to Apply

TBD

News

    Feed has no items.

OHIO MARIJUANA BUSINESS LICENSES AVAILABLE

Processor License – A licensed processor may do any of the following:

  • Obtain marijuana from one or more licensed cultivators, processors, or retail dispensaries
  • Process marijuana obtained from one or more licensed cultivators
  • Deliver or sell processed marijuana to one or more licensed retail dispensaries.

 

Cultivator License – A licensed cultivator may do either of the following:

  • Cultivate marijuana, including the acquisition of seeds or clones necessary to begin cultivation of a particular cultivar or strain of marijuana;
  • Deliver or sell marijuana to one or more licensed processors or retail dispensaries.
  • Level I cultivators shall be permitted to expand to a marijuana cultivation area of up to one hundred thousand square feet;
  • Level II cultivators shall be permitted to expand to a marijuana cultivation area of up to fifteen thousand square feet.

The division of cannabis control shall issue up to forty (40) level III adult use cultivator licenses, with preference provided to applicants who have been certified as cannabis social equity and jobs program participants.

 

Retail Dispensary License – A licensed retail dispensary may do any of the following:

  • Obtain marijuana from one or more cultivators, processors, or other retail dispensaries, if the retail dispensaries have common ownership;
  • Dispense or sell marijuana and paraphernalia in accordance with division
  • Beginning two hundred forty days after the effective date of this amendment, dispense or sell marijuana and paraphernalia to adult consumers
  • Deliver marijuana, marijuana, paraphernalia, and accessories specified in the rules adopted to registered patients and adult consumers.

The division of cannabis control shall issue up to fifty (50) additional adult-use dispensary licenses with preference provided to applicants who have been certified as cannabis social equity and jobs program participants.

 

Testing Laboratory License – A licensed laboratory may do both of the following:

  • Test the marijuana for potency, homogeneity, and contamination;
  • Prepare a report of the test results.

 

Following twenty-four (24) months from the first date of issuance of an adult use operator license, the division of cannabis control shall review the number of adult-use cannabis operator licenses on a biannual basis and may authorize additional licenses.

OHIO MARIJUANA BUSINESS LICENSES AVAILABLE

Ohio Medical Cannabis Cultivation Allowed to grow medical marijuana and deliver or sell it to one or more processors.

  • Level I cultivators are permitted to operate an initial marijuana cultivation area up to 25,000 square feet. The state issued 20 Level I cultivators’ provisional licenses, and 15 have been issued Certificates of operation.
  • Level II cultivators are permitted to operate an initial marijuana cultivation area of 3,000 square feet. Licensees may submit an expansion request pursuant to the cultivators’ rules. The state issued 14 Level II cultivators’ provisional licenses and 12 have been issued Certificates of operation.

The current application period for cultivators is closed.

Ohio Medical Cannabis Processor – A processor manufactures medical marijuana products. There are three types of
processors

  • Standalone
  • Vertically integrated facilities
  • Plant-only processor (cultivator who distributes plant material directly to dispensaries

The holder of a processor license may do any of the following:

  • Obtain medical marijuana from one or more licensed cultivators.
  • Process medical marijuana obtained from a cultivator into a form that may be dispensed.
  • Deliver or sell processed medical marijuana to one or more licensed retail dispensaries.

When processing medical marijuana, a licensed processor must package it according to federal child-resistant effectiveness standards in effect in the bill’s effective date. A processor must also label the packaging with the product’s tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol content and comply with any packaging or
labeling requirements established in rules adopted by the Department of Commerce. The state issued 48 Processor provisional licenses and 30 have been issued Certificates of operation.

The current application period for processors is closed.

Ohio Medical Cannabis Dispensary – Allowed to obtain medical marijuana from one or more processors and may dispense or sell it to patients. The state issued 57 Dispensary provisional licenses and 52 have been issued Certificates of operation. The state will be issuing 73 additional dispensary licenses to accommodate the growing number of patients. Applications will be accepted from Nov 4 – 18, 2021.

Ohio Medical Cannabis Testing Labs– Allowed to obtain medical marijuana from licensed cultivators, processors, and retail dispensaries and may conduct testing on the marijuana. When testing, a licensed laboratory must test for potency, homogeneity, and contamination and prepare a report of test results. There is no limit to the number of testing lab licenses that may be awarded by the department. Testing laboratories include both universities and private labs.

HOW TO START A MARIJUANA BUSINESS IN OHIO

To obtain a marijuana business license in Ohio, you will be required to submit an application. As part of the application, some of the plans you will need to include the following:

    • Security Plan
    • Environmental Impact Plan
    • Quality Control and Quality Assurance Plan
    • Business History Plan
    • Financial Plan
    • Community Benefits Plan
    • Research Plan
    • Cultivation, Manufacturing and/or Dispensing Plan
    • Labor Compliance Plan
    • Staffing and Training Plan

 

Schedule for a complimentary 15-min consult with our licensing/application expert to learn more about how we may be able to assist you.


HOW TO START A MARIJUANA BUSINESS IN OHIO

To obtain a marijuana business license in Ohio, you will be required to submit an application. As part of the application, some of the plans you will need to include the following:

    • Security Plan
    • Environmental Impact Plan
    • Quality Control and Quality Assurance Plan
    • Business History Plan
    • Financial Plan
    • Community Benefits Plan
    • Research Plan
    • Cultivation, Manufacturing and/or Dispensing Plan
    • Labor Compliance Plan
    • Staffing and Training Plan

 

Schedule for a complimentary 15-min consult with our licensing/application expert to learn more about how we may be able to assist you.

OHIO MARIJUANA TIMELINE

2016 – Ohio legalized medical cannabis

2017 – Ohio licensing period for cannabis businesses

2019 – First Ohio medical cannabis businesses opened and medical cannabis sales began

2020 – Ohio State Medical Board approved adding cachexia to approved conditions.

April 2021 – The board of Pharmacy approved increasing the number of state dispensary licenses by 73, now totaling 130.

Nov 4 – 18, 2021 – The Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program will be accepting dispensary applications.

Nov 7, 2023 – The people of Ohio voted to legalize recreational cannabis through Issue 2

Dec 7, 2023 – Bill goes into effect

June 7, 2024 – Deadline for the Division to begin accepting cannabis license applications

September 7, 2024 – Deadline for the Division to begin awarding cannabis licenses

CONTACT US


CONTACT US


    "Cannabis Business Advisors is a world-class company. Their tactical and strategic knowledge will guide any business to success. CB Advisors' advice and counsel played a key role in making Strive Life the only locally awarded dispensary in North Dakota."

    - Jonathan O'KeefeDispensary Owner, Strive Life Grand Forks

    "SARA’S SUCCESS SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. OUR COMPANY CONTINUES TO ENGAGE SARA FOR ONGOING CONSULTING AND HER ADVICE REMAINS SOLID AND RELEVANT TO OUR GROWTH."

    - JonathanOwner, Firefly Dispensaries in Pennsylvania.

    "WORKING WITH SARA WAS A PLEASURE. WE DON’T KNOW HOW WE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS WITHOUT HER."

    - Kristina BeglarianArizona Vertically Integrated Facility Owner

    "Sara reduced much of the management team’s stress by her knowledge, execution, resolving conflicts, and firm but confident approach."

    - Dr. Robert CaprettoChairman, Solevo Wellness

    "Sara’s success speaks for itself. Our company continues to engage Sara for ongoing consulting and her advice remains solid and relevant to our growth."

    - JonathanOwner, Firefly Dispensaries in Pennsylvania.

    "Working with Sara was a pleasure. We don’t know how we would have gotten through the application process without her."

    -Kristina BeglarianArizona Vertically Integrated Facility Owner