OHIO CANNABIS PROGRAM
OHIO
OVERVIEW
The state of 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. Licenses for the 73 additional dispensaries are expected to be issued in early 2022.
To learn more, contact us
Hemp
Yes
Medical Marijuana
Yes
Adult Use
No
When to Apply
2021
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.
ENHANCED OVERVIEW OF MARIJUANA IN OHIO
Regulating Department: Under House Bill 523, the Department of Commerce is responsible for the licensure of cultivators, processors, and testing laboratories, while the Board of Pharmacy is charged with the licensure of retail dispensaries and the registration of patients and caregivers. In the case of physicians, the State Medical Board is to issue certificates to those seeking to recommend treatment with medical marijuana. On April 19, 2021 The State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy has approved increasing the number of state dispensary licenses by 73, bringing the total allowed to 130 statewide. The application process will be released this spring or summer, pending changes to the rules by the Board of pharmacy. When the application process is announced, the OMMCP will post more information regarding the application process on its website.
Qualifying Medical Conditions: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Cancer, Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Crohn’s disease, Epilepsy or another seizure disorder, Fibromyalgia, Glaucoma, Hepatitis C, Inflammatory bowel disease, Multiple sclerosis, Pain that is either of the following: Chronic and severe; Intractable, Parkinson’s disease, Positive status for HIV, Post-traumatic disorder, Sickle cell anemia, Spinal cord disease or injury, Tourette’s syndrome, Traumatic brain injury, Ulcerative colitis, Cachexia
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.
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."
Dispensary 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."
Owner, 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."
Arizona Vertically Integrated Facility Owner"Sara reduced much of the management team’s stress by her knowledge, execution, resolving conflicts, and firm but confident approach."
Chairman, 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."
Owner, 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."
Arizona Vertically Integrated Facility Owner