Legal pot sales top $700M in Year No. 1

VW independent staff/submitted information

COLUMBUS — Ohio legal marijuana sales topped $702.5 million in the first year, according to a report by the Ohio Capital Journal. However, that number may not be as “high” as originally projected.

Last week marked one year since Ohio began selling recreational marijuana and sales totaled $702,587,948 with 109,706 pounds sold as of last Tuesday, according to the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Cannabis Control.

Ohioans passed a citizen-initiated law to legalize recreational marijuana in 2023 with 57 percent of the vote, and sales started in August 2024. Ohio lawmakers can change the law since it passed as a citizen initiative not a constitutional amendment.

Ohio Cannabis Coalition Executive Director David Bowling said there is still work to be done around letting people know they can legally buy marijuana in Ohio. 

“I talk to people all the time that aren’t aware that you can buy cannabis legally,” he said. “From a revenue perspective, things aren’t exactly where we thought they would be, but they’re not terrible,” Bowling said. “I think people thought we would get closer to $2 billion in revenue.” 

Ohio has 159 dispensaries licensed to sell both medical and recreational marijuana, according to the Ohio Department of Commerce. One is located in Van Wert County (Delphos), while another is located in Paulding County (Antwerp). There is currently no limit on the number of licenses for dispensaries in Ohio. 

Ohio lawmakers have tried to change Ohio’s marijuana laws, but according to the Ohio Capital Journal, their efforts have been unsuccessful.   

Ohio Senate Bill 56 passed in the Senate earlier this year, but has yet to make it out of committee in the House.  The bill would reduce the THC levels in adult-use marijuana extracts from a maximum of 90 percent down to a maximum of 70 percent, limit the number of active dispensaries to 400 and prohibit smoking in most public places. 

S.B. 56 would also regulate intoxicating hemp products. Only a licensed marijuana dispensary would be able to sell intoxicating hemp products that have been tested and complied with packaging, labeling and advertising requirements. The Ohio Department of Commerce would regulate intoxicating hemp products and drinkable cannabinoid products.