The Department of Commerce in Ohio has released new figures showing that the sales of marijuana for medical use and adult consumption have now surpassed $3 Billion.
The Division of Cannabis Control of the DOC published an update on Tuesday that reported $3,036,756,851 worth of cannabis sales as of September 13, 2018. This includes $2.2 billion in medical marijuana sales which were legalized in 2019 and $802 millions in recreational cannabis sales which began in August last year.
DCC says that since the start of the medical market, nearly 40 millions receipts were issued for 458,292 pounds plant material, and 44.4 million units manufactured.
There are currently around 165 licensed retail outlets that serve patients and adults. The state reports that there are currently 459,408 medical cannabis patients registered and 41,995 caregivers.
DCC has also stated that marijuana costs $6.55 per gram.
DCC data shows that in the first year after implementation of the recreational marijuana law, about $703,000,000 worth of cannabis was sold in California.
The voters of November 2023 approved the ballot initiative for legalizing adult-use marijuana. Legislators have been taking steps since then to update the law. But that has been met by pushback, and so far the legislators have not been able to come to a consensus on how to change the law.
This plan was derailed last-minute by differences between House Republicans, and Senate Republicans.
After hearing public testimony, and after adopting changes to SB 56 cannabis legislation passed by the Senate, the House Judiciary Committee declined to proceed with the proposal at the scheduled June hearing. As a result, it was not possible to vote on this measure.
A hearing held in May approved changes that rolled back strict restrictions included in an earlier version of this measure, which was passed by Senate in February. These include a criminal ban on adults sharing marijuana on private property.
In March, a survey of 38 municipalities by the Ohio State University’s (OSU) Moritz College of Law found that local leaders were “unequivocally opposed” to earlier proposals that would have stripped the planned funding.
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Meanwhile in Ohio, adults as of June are able to buy more than double the amount of marijuana than they were under previous limits, with state officials determining that the market can sustainably supply both medical cannabis patients and adult consumers.
Gov. Mike DeWine, (R), announced in separate statements made by him on March that he wanted to use marijuana tax revenues to fund police training and local jails. DeWine said that funding police training would be a priority even if it wasn’t part of what the voters approved in 2023.
Ohio’s Senate president has also pushed back against criticism of the Senate bill, claiming the legislation does not disrespect the will of the electorate and would have little impact on products available in stores.
Separately, lawmakers are considering legislation to restrict intoxicating hemp products.
DeWine has repeatedly asked lawmakers to regulate or ban intoxicating hemp products such as delta-8 THC.
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