Launch day: Doors open for Ohio’s first recreational marijuana sales

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio officially had its first legal recreational marijuana sales Tuesday, as nearly 100 shops in the state received the green light to open for new business.

Trulieve’s Phil Buck told NBC4 that a Columbus resident picked up an online order of cannabis flower, a vape cartridge, concentrate and edibles right at 7 a.m. at its Westerville location, when doors opened. Jason Erkes with Cresco Labs — the parent company of Sunnyside Dispensaries — also confirmed to NBC4 that the storefront in Cincinnati finished its first sale of recreational marijuana at 7:04 a.m.

The Ohio Division of Cannabis Control confirmed 98 medical dispensaries would receive their certificates of operation, allowing them to convert to a dual use storefront and sell to recreational customers. They’ve been waiting nearly a year for this launch after voters passed Issue 2 in November.

Dispensaries prepare for recreational sale of marijuana

Erkes showed NBC4 the first crop of cannabis planted specifically for recreational products in May. With the state’s supply receiving dual-use certificates first, he confirmed his Yellow Springs growing facility harvested the crop in July.

Ohio’s marijuana industry displayed major interest in doing recreational business, with 104 of the state’s 126 dispensaries applying in July to convert to dual use, according to DCC Public Information Officer Jamie Crawford. On Tuesday morning, the agency updated its cannabis dispensary map to include multiple locations that converted to dual use, marked in green.

Which dispensaries are selling recreational on Tuesday?

On Monday, the DCC provided a list of the 98 dispensaries that would receive certificates of operation and be allowed to sell recreationally on Tuesday. Search for a city in the chart below to see which ones are nearby.

When dispensary doors will open

Both Sunnyside and Trulieve have squared up as possible hosts for the first official recreational marijuana sale in Ohio. The former’s Cincinnati dispensary — at 5149 Kennedy Ave. — and the latter’s Columbus and Westerville locations — 2950 N. High St. and 8295 Sancus Blvd. — are each opening at 7 a.m.

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Other storefronts, like Sunnyside in Chillicothe and the Landing OH in Columbus, chose times between 9 and 10 a.m.

How customers can pay for recreational marijuana

Payment options for customers vary between dispensaries. Erkes said Sunnyside Dispensaries accept cash as well as debit cards, as long as they use a PIN. Nate Darling with the Landing Dispensary in Columbus, on the other hand, said the store takes cash, or customers can use an ecommerce platform called Dutchie Pay. He added that the dispensary has ATMs on-site as well.

Trulieve’s Phil Buck told NBC4 that the company’s shops accept cash, debt cards, Dutchie and another service called CanPay.

See more recreational marijuana questions answered here

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