Tuesday's the day: Recreational marijuana dispensaries in Cincinnati expect crush of customers (2024)

Marijuana dispensaries in the Cincinnati area are readying for a historic Tuesday as recreational cannabis goes on sale for the first time since voters approved it in last November's election.

"It's an exciting day for Ohio," said Jack Hartmann, manager of the Zen Leaf dispensary in Cincinnati's Hartwell neighborhood. "That's really all we're expecting here − just an exciting day."

So exciting, in fact, that medical marijuana customers jammed some dispensaries Monday to get their prescriptions filled in anticipation of Tuesday being too busy to navigate.

"It's been nonstop," said Jason Erkes, spokesman at Chicago-based Cresco Labs, which owns Cincinnati's Sunnyside dispensary. "People are asking how early they can come to wait in the parking lot to try to be one of the first customers. People want to be part of history."

On Monday, the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Cannabis Control said 98 dispensaries are set to be issued dual-use certificates of operation statewide Tuesday morning. The 19 in the Cincinnati region are:

• Ascend Dispensary Outlet, 830 Reedy St., Cincinnati.
• Beyond Hello, 693 Old State Route 74, Cincinnati.
• Bloom Medicinals, 403 S. Main St., Seven Mile.
• Columbia Care, 300 N. Main Street, Monroe.
• Consume Oxford, 3620 Southpointe Pkwy, Oxford.
• Nectar, 3405 Werk Road, Cincinnati.
• Pure Iconic, 5280 College Corner Pike, Oxford.
• Queen City Cannabis, 3764 Montgomery Road, Norwood.
• Queen City Cannabis, 10140 Suspension Bridge Road, Harrison.
• Shangri-La Dispensary, 211 Brooks Dr., Monroe.
• Shangri-La Dispensary, 100 Clarence F. Warner Dr., Monroe.
• Sunyside, 5149 Kennedy Ave., Cincinnati.
• The Forest Cincinnati, 4412 Mount Carmel Tobasco Road, Cincinnati.
• The Landing, 4029 Smith Road, Cincinnati.
• The Landing, 1312 Hamilton Lebanon Road, Monroe.
• Uplift, 101 Mercy Boulevard, Mount Orab.
• Uplift, 401 Rivers Edge, Milford.
• Verilife, 5431 Ridge Ave., Cincinnati.
• Zen Leaf Cincinnati, 8420 Vine St., Cincinnati.

These dispensaries will be allowed to sell to both medical and recreational customers age 21 and older.

"The issuance of (certificates) is based on roughly the order in which completed applications were received by the Division and when compliance asks were fulfilled," the agency said in a statement. "To help ensure a fair and equitable rollout of the non-medical cannabis market in Ohio, the Division intends to award (certificates) to all remaining eligible dispensaries later this week."

Why is this happening now?

In the statute passed by Ohio voters, a Sept. 7 deadline had been set for the recreational rollout statewide. Division Superintendent James Canepa said in a statement Monday that Ohio was able to beat the deadline thanks to the "foundation laid through the state's existing Medical Marijuana Control Program."

"Since existing licensees had already met stringent requirements of that program, we anticipated this process to be rather smooth," Canepa said. "They had already undergone many of the comprehensive checks as part of that process."

Because this is a new venture for Ohio, Hartmann said it's tough to know what kind of turnout to expect, but he said he expects "quite a bit of volume." He predicted there could be lines when his store opens at 9 a.m. Other locations open as early as 7 a.m. in the Cincinnati area.

It's likely customers from neighboring states might visit Ohio to buy recreational marijuana. In Kentucky, marijuana is currently illegal but medicinal weed will be available starting in 2025.

"We're expecting quite a bit of volume," Hartmann said. "In that sense, you might have some controlled lines."

Not everyone is excited. Several regular medical marijuana customers at the Sunnyside dispensary in Oakley hit the store Monday hoping to avoid what they anticipate to be a crush of new customers when the dispensary opens its doors at 7 a.m. Tuesday.

Erkes said they were smart to get their medical supplies when they did.

“I would think that medical patients are aware of how crowded it’s going to be tomorrow and realize it’s probably not the best day to come shopping for their medicine,’’ he said. “But if they do, their medical card will be a VIP card and get them right through to get their medicine.’’

Weed in Kentucky:Who can get medical marijuana? Here's which conditions qualify

Here's what you need to know about recreational weed dispensaries in Ohio:

Weed is legal at Ohio recreational dispensaries

Starting Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, recreational marijuana will go on sale at recreational dispensaries across the state of Ohio.

Ohio recreational dispensaries 2024 map

View the map below to see which dispensaries are licensed to sell recreational products. You may want to call the store or check social media to ensure adult-use sales have started at that location

Ohio legal weed limits: How much marijuana can I buy?

Adults 21 and older can possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis and 15 grams of extracts or edibles in Ohio.

But there are limits on what you can buy in one transaction. Initially, recreational customers can purchase no more than:

• One ounce of dried plant material, called flower.
• Ten units of oil to vape, each containing 590mg of THC.
• Ten packages of edibles totaling no more than 1,100mg of THC.

The caps are combined across all types of products. That means you can't purchase the maximum amount of flower, vape cartridges and edibles in one sitting.

Division of Cannabis Control spokesman Jamie Crawford said the limits aim to ensure there's enough in stock for medical marijuana patients. The rules are only in place for now, until the division finalizes standards for the program.

What should I bring to an Ohio marijuana dispensary?

Don't forget your ID. It's illegal for dispensaries to sell to people under 21, and they will card you.

Many dispensaries only accept cash and have an ATM on site for customers who don't have any. Some stores accept debit cards or automated clearing housepayments.

Do Ohio receational dispensaries sell weed online?

Customers can place online orders at dispensaries, but they must pay in-store.

The Division of Cannabis Controlproposed rulesallowing for online payments down the road.

Do Ohio recreational weed dispensaries deliver?

Ohio regulators will also craft rules for home delivery, which is not currently available.

What marijuana products are available at Ohio recreational weed dispensaries?

Ohio dispensaries sell a range of products, including flower, vape cartridges, edibles, beverages and topical creams. The state requires businesses to package flower in 2.83 g amounts, known in the industry as the "Ohio tenth."

Initially, only products allowed under the medical marijuana program will be available to adult-use consumers. That means there won't be pre-rolled joints or concentrates with more than 70% THC on the shelves. Those could become available starting around September.

How much does marijuana cost at 2024 Ohio recreational weed dispensaries?

Flower typically costs anywhere from $30 to over $100, depending on the strain and amount per container. Vape pens and cartridges can range from $25 to $75. Edibles are usually a little cheaper − about $15 to $30 per package − but high-potency products get more expensive.

These prices don't account for sales or deals that dispensaries may offer.

Hartmann, of Zen Leaf in Hartwell, said he wasn't authorized to share pricing information until Tuesday.

What's the difference between indica and sativa?

Indica strains tend to be associated with relaxation and sedation − and oftencontain more CBD− while sativa is known for energizing users. Hybrids could be anywhere in the middle.

But it isn't that simple, Wingfield said. He encouraged shoppers to talk with dispensary employees about their needs and what kind of effect they want from the product.

Reporters Samantha Hendrickson, of the Columbus Dispatch; Kelly Byer, of the Canton Repository; and Patrick Williams, of the Akron Beacon Journal contributed.