Ohio Legal Launch: $240 Million in First Five Months
Success is counted the sweetest in Ohio, where the rollout of legal marijuana has been one of the most successful ever, analysts say. The obvious indicator that things are going pretty well in Ohio? In just under six months, Ohio legal marijuana operators topped more than $240 million in sales.
Ohioans overwhelmingly voted on a measure to approve adult-use marijuana in November 2023. The launch of legal retail followed nine months later, on August 6. Since then, business has thrived.
As per law, Ohioans of legal age can possess up to 2.5 ounces of weed on their person or 15 grams of concentrates. Smoking marijuana is only allowed on private properties, unless restricted by the property owner. Employers can enact drug-free policies, therefore, people in some professions cannot freely consume cannabis even though it is legal.
Cannabis is available to buy at licensed dispensaries; many of the retailers previously operated with medical retail and expanded with adult-use product offerings in August 2024. This is now seen as one of the crucial policies in Ohio’s success story.
Ohio’s 124 Dual-License Cannabis Dispensaries Propel Growth
Analysts highlight that Ohio’s currently active 124 dual-use dispensaries has been a major factor for a jumpstart. Having dispensaries that can sell both medicinal and adult-use cannabis products - and actually have so many to begin with - has provided for a smooth transition between the medicinal-only and fully-commercial cannabis market. Medical marijuana has been in place in Ohio since 2016, thus the market overall has had plenty of time to develop.
“Usually, when a state starts, they have to create a separate path for adult recreational use. Ohio already had a blueprint that other states struggled to create,” Ben Burstein, a national cannabis sales analyst with LeafLink told Fox8.
Between August, 2024 and January, 2025, Ohio operators managed to generate $242 million in profits, and this figure is headed to surpass $800 million in annual sales. “It has been one of the most successful launches in U.S. history,” Burstein said.
Over Hundred Cities in Ohio Keep Active Bans on Marijuana
On the other side of the story, legal recreational marijuana is not accessible everywhere in the Buckeye State. Local bans on adult-use cannabis are reportedly active in over 120 cities and towns, though such a significant number of bans could be temporary. If Ohio follows trends seen in other legal states, an increasing number of municipalities will probably show interest in marijuana tax money, as business continues to grow.
Ohio is already on track to hit more than $800 million in annual sales, and will likely get its first billion by the end of 2025. The figures could build up even further, depending on how much the market expands in those areas where there’s currently a ban in place. At the same time, it might also shrink in some segments, such as if vape products are prohibited. That is one of the measures considered by Ohioan lawmakers. In the same move, lawmakers might also limit homegrowing, which currently comes in with pretty perks of being able to legally cultivate up to six mature plants.
It wouldn’t be strange if some of the rules change. Ohio is still a spanking new fully legal state. For any updates on personal cannabis rights and provisions in Ohio, check out this resource from ACLU of Ohio.
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Stephen Andrews
