Ohio medical marijuana companies prepare to apply for dual-use license to sell recreational

Ohio medical marijuana companies are gearing up to begin the process of entering the recreational marijuana business.

The Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR) recently approved regulations from the Division of Cannabis Control — meaning dispensaries can start applying for a recreational license in the coming weeks and sales could begin as soon as sometime in June.

“We will as soon as possible put in our application for dual use operations at all of our active licenses,” said Brandon Nemec, PharmaCann’s government and regulatory affairs director. PharmaCann is a Level I medical marijuana cultivation facility in Licking County. They have three dispensaries in Ohio — Cincinnati, Hillsboro and Wapakoneta.

“We are prepared at the production level to submit our applications and work with the regulators to begin operations,” Nemec said.

The applications aren’t available just yet. The DCC needs to file the rule in final form with JCARR, the Legislative Service Commission and the Secretary of State’s office by Wednesday.

Then applications will be available before June 7. Medical marijuana dispensaries can apply for a dual license so they can also sell recreational marijuana. There will also be applications available for companies that only want to sell recreational marijuana.

Selling marijuana recreationally will cut down on the illicit market, said Adam Goers, senior vice president of Corporate Affairs for the Cannabist Company.