OHIO

The Buckeye State

Ohio Voters made history on November 7, 2023, choosing to approve “Issue 2” on the State Ballot, becoming the 24th state to legalize Adult-Use. The new law goes into effect on December 7, 2023, establishing a new system to regulate and tax cannabis products just like alcohol.

Legislation

Issue 2 which was the ballot initiative to legalize Adult-Use in the State of Ohio passed, effectively establishing the framework to regulate cannabis for adults 21 and older. Ohio cannabis legalization includes the allowance of cultivation, processing, sale and purchase, possession, and access to grow at home. Adults are allowed to possess up to 2.5 ounces of flower and a maximum of 15 grams of concentrates. This new legislation also grants Level I operators the option to add an additional three storefronts in the State, and also allows Level I and Level II License holders to expand capacities for cultivation and manufacturing.

Ohio’s newly established Division of Cannabis Control is the body tasked with regulating the state’s industry and licensing cannabis operators. The Division is also responsible for overseeing the compliance and standardization of businesses.

To view details about the legalization of Adult-Use, please click the button below.

Details about Ohio’s first Adult-Use license round are still to be determined, but it is anticipated that the first round of awardees will be granted by Fall of 2024. Pursuant to the existing statute, there are set to be 40 Level III cultivator licenses and 50 dispensary licenses available up for grabs, with a preference being given to certified individuals in the Cannabis Social Equity and Jobs Program that will be created by the Ohio Department of Development.

There are also limitations for those interested in Ohio cannabis licenses. No individual can own or control more than one (1) Level III Cultivation license, and no cultivator or processor, regardless of operational size, can maintain any level of ownership or control for a Level III cultivator. No individual can have more than eight (8) Adult-Use dispensary licenses; nor more than one (1) Adult-Use cultivator license, and more than one (1) Adult-Use processor license at any given time.

The site for the Division of Cannabis Control is still being developed, but to view the website for Ohio’s Medical Marijuana Control Program, please click the button below.

Timeline

November 7, 2023: Nearly 60% of voters approved Issue 2, legalizing and regulating the cultivation, manufacturing, testing, the sale, and home grow of Adult-Use cannabis to those 21 and older in Ohio. There will be a 10% tax at the point of sale for each transaction.

As more market updates come in, we will update this Timeline. For more information on Ohio’s Cannabis Industry, please click the button below.

Longview Strategic is excited about them momentum occurring in Ohio, and the efforts being made to establish a robust market for cannabis! We will be closely following this market’s development, so please click the button below to learn more about how you can best prepare for Ohio’s first round of licensing, and gain the resources you need for your business to succeed.