Recreational marijuana sales will begin across Ohio on Tuesday when the state issues its first operating certificates.
Nearly 100 medical marijuana dispensaries will be able to begin sales immediately, although it’s not clear how many will be ready to open, the Division of Cannabis Control said Monday.
Many will be ready right away while others could be delayed by staffing or inventory issues.
The first round of operation certificates will go to 98 locations, according to the Division of Cannabis Control.
100 locations? That reminds me of when Washington legalized it a decade ago and they thought it would be a good idea to limit them to only a certain number per district. The prices were so high at the shops because of that that most people stuck to their illegal hookup. LCB quickly realized the whole thing would fail unless they expanded access.
At the moment, it’s moreso that these are already existing medical dispensaries that have been cleared to sell recreational starting tomorrow, which is almost all of them (we don’t have that many in the state right now, anyway - I think around 130 at this point, many very recently opened). They’re still, as far as I’m aware, setting up the process for a rec-only selling license, so it remains to be seen how quickly we will reach saturation. Prices will remain high here for quite some time, though, I think - probably until it’s federally legal to sell cannabis across state lines. Our growing system is kind of shit and I don’t see that changing soon.
Ohio made the process for becoming a Dispo Employee extremely long winded. Hours upon hours of training and tests. I’m in Oregon and we’re sending managers out to Ohio to help them start up.
Authoritarians love creating mechanisms for bribery and kickbacks (such as only granting dispensary “licenses” to their cronies).
There’s got to be a good middle ground. Seems like there’s a smoke shop every block in my area (outside Boston). I highly doubt the demand is that high. And they’re all chain places, too. That space could be used for more local and more useful businesses.
I’m not following your logic. If demand is not high enough to support the store location, are you suggesting that these stores are being run unprofitably, and if so, where’s the money coming from to make up the shortfall to continue operations on a monthly basis?
Or is it possible that landlords are taking a loss on rent because some rent is better than no rent because there aren’t more local/useful businesses willing to open in those spaces?
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We have 14 dispensaries for our city of 55k (6sq miles) and there are regularly lines out the door. Demand is fine.
I personally can’t stand small shops. They regularly lack online shopping and have higher prices. Sunnyside, our local chain actively hires those from the queer community, have consistent products, and offer the best prices.
Sounds like it works in your area, then. Good for you, and I don’t mean that sarcastically. If it worked like that here, I wouldn’t be complaining as much (though that comment is the only time I’ve actually complained, which tells you how big a deal it isn’t).