Ohio adult-use marijuana sales approved as part of 2023 ballot measure could begin by mid-June

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Recreational marijuana could be available for sale in Ohio by mid-June, after new licensing rules for dispensaries cleared a key legislative hurdle Monday.

Adult-use sales have been in limbo in the state since December, when an initiated statute approved by voters went into effect. Ohioans over 21 were immediately able to legally grow and possess cannabis at home, but they had nowhere to legally buy it — prompting concern by Gov. Mike DeWine and some fellow Republicans in the Legislature that openings would be created for a black market.

On Monday, the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review allowed rules to proceed without objection that clear the way for a dual licensing program that will allow existing medical marijuana dispensaries to also sell non-medical pot products. Jim Canepa, superintendent of the Division of Cannabis Control, said applications will be available by no later than June 7, as the new law requires.

“I don’t want to give anyone false hopes,” he told reporters, when asked whether applications might even be available before then. “We’re following the timeline in the initiated statute. We have a small but mighty staff, but there’s (a) bandwidth (issue) there.”

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