Ohio legalization Issue 2 is kicking in, but it’s not like a big movie premier where legal cannabis is in every town at once. Voters legalized it just last November, and The Buckeye State began retail sales Tuesday, Aug. 6. Sales have doubled at about 100 dual-use medical-recreational stores since then. State sellers report more than $38 million in revenue so far. Read on if you’re an illicit market shopper coming out of the cold, or a law-abiding type who has just been waiting for this fine day.
Where is legal weed available?
Congratulations, Ohio! Cannabis is available at medical cannabis dispensaries approved to sell to all adults age 21 and up with valid I.D. Newly legal stores will pop up across the state all month—like stars coming out at night, one by one.
Go to the Leafly map of Ohio weed stores and look for ones labeled “Rec.”
HISTORY MADE: 7:04 marks a legal recreational marijuana sale at Sunnyside in Columbia Township Ohio.
— Danielle Dindak (@danielledindak) August 6, 2024
The first customer got in line last night at 6:20 for this moment.
“Finally, finally recreational,” he said@wlwtpic.twitter.com/ZwOd2ue2jY
Furthermore, many stores like Ayr Wellness, Curaleaf, Shangri-la, The Botanist, and Verano have started to announce their switchover.
Also, Ohio state regulators have updated their map—about 22 spots are open this morning.
The applications will be processed on a first-come first-served basis by the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control. Ohio has about 126 dispensaries open statewide.
News outlet Marijuana Moment has also built a nifty map of everyone in the pipeline to open.
How are supplies doing?
As of Thursday, Aug. 9, dispensaries reported ample supplies, despite some sold out items.
How much can I buy?
You can possess 2.5 ounces of flower and up to 15 grams of extract. You can’t smoke in public or drive or boat high. For more background, read our ‘Ohio just voted to legalize cannabis. Here’s what happens next’.
At least 54 cities and counties—mainly suburbs—will opt out of sales for now. Citizens affected by local bans can contact their representatives because certainly cannabis opponents are.
How much will it cost?
Cannabis starts at about $3 per gram right now for low-grade ‘shake’ in the medical system, which will be a good baseline for upcoming recreational prices. The top end hits $12 per gram. The average is about $9 per gram, and $267 per ounce. Expect prices to rise maybe 20% as demand swamps supply. Eventually, supply equalizes and surpasses demand, and prices will start falling. In mature weed states like Oregon, joints can go for as little as $2.
One-gram cartridges run in the $50 to $60 range.
Ohio will add a 10% excise tax to cannabis sales. The state has a 5.75% sales tax, as well as local taxes of up to 2.25%. The Ohio industry is on pace to gross $1 billion in retail sales per year from roughly 1 million monthly smokers.
What are some good strains to try?
The top-searched strains in Ohio this month are:
- Blue Dream
- Original Glue
- Super Boof
- Lemon Cherry Gelato
- Runtz
- Gary Payton
- Ice Cream Cake
- Wedding Cake
- Permanent Marker (Leafly Strain of the Year 2023)
- GMO Cookies
This list offers some good places to start for popular strains, and what a sophisticated collection of current cultivars we see. It shows how cannabis appreciation ignores state lines and trends have become global. Ohio truly is The Heart of It All.
I don’t want to smoke weed, though.
Then legalization is your huckleberry. Adult-use sales also include gummies, vaporizers, dabs, topicals, and more. So many medical patients avail themselves of cannabis therapy when it becomes legal and they need not involve a doctor or health organization.
That said, stay out of trouble by knowing your limit and staying under it. Here is a handy guide to edibles dosing for beginners. Edibles are where most people get in the most trouble.
Also, lock up your edibles and weed away from kids to avoid accidental poisonings.
What are Ohio’s top cannabis brands?
Ohio has big brands found in other states. Including:
Contact Leafly sales to drive more orders with a poppin’ brand page.
What are some of Ohio’s top cannabis stores?
According to Leafly data, popular stores include:
See a map of all dispensaries in Ohio on Leafly.
Contact Leafly sales to get your store listed on the Leafly Map.
What happens next?
New stores flip to adult-use virtually weekly—the pace is set by how fast stores finish their paperwork. Ohio has 126 medical dispensaries. A large fraction will aim to serve the 1 million-strong adult-use market.
Regulators will award applications on a first-come first-served basis. The sooner a dispensary submits its application, the sooner it’ll hear back from the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control. The state faces a deadline of September to permit stores to operate.
Got any more tips?
- Research where your stores are, and what’s on the menu.
- Bring cash and a valid ID.
- Plan to spend some time enjoying your first dispensary experience.
See a weird word? Use our Leafly Cannabis Glossary to stay current on the new language of ganja.
Have questions?
Drop them in the comments below. There is so much to learn so click on over to our Learn pages to get started.
