Ohio’s Adult-Use Cannabis Market Takes First Major Step – Green Thumb Industries (OTC:GTBIF)

The Ohio Division of Cannabis Control (DCC) issued the first dual-use certificates on Friday, officially opening the door for four growers and six processors to enter the state’s adult-use cannabis market, which is set to be legalized via vote in November 2023.

Initial licenses granted to key players

The state began accepting applications for recreational marijuana sales on June 7. Since then, the DCC has received 230 applications for dual-use sales, which allows a medical dispensary to also sell recreational marijuana, and another 190 new applications for dispensary licenses, WKRC reported.

According to the Cannabis Business Times, established names such as Riviera Creek Holdings and Pure Ohio Wellness are among the recipients of the first dual-use certificates.

See also: 20% Price Hike: Adult Cannabis Users in Ohio Could Initially Pay More Due to High Demand and Limited Supply

Riviera Creek, based in Youngstown, has been a household name in the Ohio medical cannabis market since January 2019.

“Riviera Creek is excited to have been granted a dual-use license and looks forward to delivering its premium products to adults in the state of Ohio,” said CEO, Daniel KesslerThe company has significantly expanded its facilities in preparation for the adult market, adding approximately 5,000 square feet of canopy and hiring additional staff.

Pure Ohio Wellness, which operates a large cultivation and processing facility in Springfield, has also received dual-use certification.

“It means a lot to us… this brings us one step closer,” CEO Tracey McMillin commentary. The company has increased its production capacity, doubled its flower production capacity and expanded its facilities to meet the increased demand.

A look at the certification process

The first batch of the DCC consists of the following ten growers and processors:

• Pure Ohio Wellbeing (Springfield, Clark County) – Cultivator level I
• Green Thumb Industries Inc GTBIF (Toledo, Lucas County) – Cultivator level I
• Klutch Cannabis (Akron, Summit County) – Cultivator level I
• Farkas Farms (Grafton, Lorain County) – Cultivator level II
• Riviera Creek (Youngstown, Mahoning County) – Processor
• One Orijin (Columbus, Franklin County) – Processor
• Green Fingers Industries (Toledo, Lucas County) – Processor
• Pure Ohio Wellbeing (Springfield, Clark County) – Processor
• Klutch Cannabis (Akron, Summit County) – Processor
• FN Group (Municipality of Ravenna, Portage County) – Processor

These entities will continue to comply with existing packaging and labeling requirements for medical cannabis until new adult-use regulations are finalized. Businesses must use their dual-use license numbers and DCC seals on packaging to ensure product legitimacy and consumer safety.

Next steps for pharmacies and future rollout

The DCC plans to issue dual-use licenses to pharmacies starting September 7, although actual sales to adults will depend on the readiness of the pharmacies in question.

“It is up to the retailer to determine the day the sale begins, depending on staffing, inventory and other considerations,” he said. Jamie Crawfordspokesperson for the Ohio Department of Commerce.

Pharmacies are subject to specific conditions, including customer confidentiality and strict guidelines for store operations. In particular, the DCC has outlined permitted and prohibited activities for pharmacy opening days, to ensure that events and promotions are in line with regulatory standards.

Ohio’s entry into the adult-use cannabis market makes it one of the most populous states with such laws, joining California, New York and Illinois.

As the program grows, Ohio’s nearly 12 million residents will have access to legal cannabis, and the state is poised to become a major player in the national cannabis landscape.

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Cover image created with AI.