Both medical patients and adult-use consumers can purchase in Ohio dispensaries, but operators could choose whether they wanted to get both kinds of licenses. Management from Consume Cincinnati explains why they are preparing to be one of only three licensees in Ohio to open as an “adult-use only” dispensary, but still give major incentives to those with their med cards.
Consume Anderson to Be One of Ohio’s First Adult-Use Only Dispensaries
MedicateOH spoke with Emily Miller, Senior Marketing Manager with PTS/Consume. She said that management chose Adult-Use primarily for the accessibility and attainability for the patients and consumers. With Medical Cannabis, there are specific regulations and the need for an identification card from a licensed healthcare provider.
“We know the medical card process can be more time consuming with requiring medical oversight and with legal adult-use cannabis, access is simpler and more straightforward depending on the state or county, legal age, and licensed dispensary,” she explained.
The major differences between adult-use and medical cannabis that consumers and patients will notice besides the framework process of getting your medical card, are the products available and the overall costs. “The product selection available for medical cannabis products are offered in higher concentrations of cannabinoids and include specialized formulations with specific CBD-THC ratios and the overall cost and affordability of the products will differ, mainly with the taxation exemptions for medical patients versus the taxes for adult-use. However, all our stores offer discounts and deals for our medical guests with correct documentation,” said Miller.
DCC Gives Additional Context
Jamie Crawford represents the Division of Cannabis Control, and gave us some additional context.
“As a part of the application process for new dispensary locations, entities were permitted to select whether they would be a dual-use facility (meaning they can sell to both medical and non-medical customers) or whether they would be a non-medical use facility (meaning they could only sell to non-medical customers). There are only three entities that chose to apply for a non-medical-use only facility. These entities are currently building out their locations, and the Division does not have a projected timeline for when the adult-use only facilities may open,” Crawford said.
Although they are slightly different license types, there will not be many differences between dual use and non-medical-use only facilities. Both are subject to the same security, operational and record keeping standards. “The most noticeable difference is a non-medical-use only facility will not be permitted to carry any products that are only available to medical patients,” Crawford added.
Eligibility for MMJ Patients
Ohio legalized adult-use cannabis following the approval of Issue 2 on November 7, 2023, and has spent all of 2024 establishing the framework for running it alongside the existing medical marijuana (MMJ) program. The specifics of each program are being analyzed and updated to eliminate discrepancies.
Purchasing in Ohio under Adult-Use versus Medical
Adult-use cannabis in Ohio is available to anyone aged 21 and older, allowing them to purchase and possess cannabis for recreational use without needing a medical reason. In contrast, medical marijuana patients must have a qualifying medical condition, and need a recommendation from a certified physician to obtain their card. The age of eligibility for medical cannabis access is lower than for adult-use cannabis, meaning that minors may purchase cannabis at dispensaries only if they have a documented medical condition.
Individuals using adult-use cannabis can grow their own plants, specifically six plants per person, with a maximum of twelve plants per residence. Meanwhile, MMJ patients are not permitted to cultivate their own marijuana. Possession limits also vary: adult-use cannabis consumers may possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis flower at any time, while registered medical marijuana patients may hold a maximum of 90-day supply, such as up to 8 ounces depending on their tier classification.
Taxing Structure
Adult-use cannabis is taxed at a rate of 10% in addition to existing state and local sales taxes, which range from 5.25% to 7.50%, leading to a total tax burden on recreational sales of approximately 15.25% to 17.5%. Medical marijuana purchases are only subject to the regular sales tax; therefore, medical patients do not face the additional excise tax levied on recreational cannabis. This disparity could incentivize some individuals to pursue MMJ registration for cost benefits, particularly given that MMJ products are often priced lower than their recreational counterparts. Where veterans and indigent patients have always been incentivized at 20-30 percent discount, MedicateOH notes that many Ohio dispensaries now offer significant discounts for all MMJ cardholders.
Another noticeable difference between the consumer experience and the cardholder experience is the wait. Cardholders wait in a separate line with a dedicated checkout counter at most dispensaries.
How Will Entities Consider Licensing Structure in the Future?
With the advent of adult-use cannabis, there are ongoing discussions about how this will affect the medical cannabis program in Ohio. Existing patients might experience a shift in product availability and potentially increased competition for resources, impacting overall patient enrollment. Some fear this could lead to adjustments in the regulation, such as potential revisions in supply limits or access.
A rule package to update details of both programs was issued earlier in December and is currently undergoing final review. Some key changes include modifications to application processes, updates to tracking systems for cannabis products, and clarification of rules for medical marijuana patients and providers. These changes aim to improve the accessibility, accountability, and safety of the state’s cannabis system.
Have questions, comments or concerns about accessibility in your local dispensary? Email us to tell us about it, and we may include it in a future article.
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