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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio’s anticipated rollout of recreational marijuana could happen as soon as this summer.
The Division of Cannabis Control has proposed a new set of rules that dispensaries would have to follow in the latest step toward issuing licenses.
The DCC said it is on track to issue its first licenses in June to facilities that are already set up for medical sales. It would issue a second set of licenses to non-medical facilities in September.
The new proposed rules include opening at least 500 feet from places like schools, public parks and churches, closing by 11 p.m. and other rules that concern security, visitor policies, financial responsibility and how dispensaries will dispose of waste.
Jeff McCourt, CEO of Firelands Scientific, which owns The Landing Dispensary in Columbus, is encouraged by the rule set.
“We are really excited to see how quickly and thoughtfully the Division of Cannabis Control is moving to implement what the voters approved in Issue 2,” McCourt said. “There is a lot of work Jim Canepa, the new director, and his team are doing. [It’s] a tremendous amount of work to put together the rule sets we see, and it looks like they are moving deliberately to get the program up and running as soon as possible for adult use consumers.”
McCourt said The Landing Dispensary was one of the first in the state to open for medical cannabis. They are preparing now for the extra demand that will come when they are able to sell more recreational use.
“We see the DCC being engaged in all of that and we are really optimistic that the pathway they have set out is going to be a smooth and effective one for the public as well as existing medical patients,” he said.
At Bloom Dispensary, the company is using its experience adding recreational sales at dispensaries in other states, like Missouri, to guide their transition in Ohio.
“We have been working diligently, we are on a huge hiring spree bringing on new members to help meet the demand in volume to start selling recreationally and then we are also looking at current properties to see what we can do to expand footprints expand properties,” Wagner said.
He too is encouraged by the proposed rules and said once they receive a license, they could open as soon as the next day.
“It seems the division is business focused they want the business to succeed without hindering the customers in any way, so we are very happy with the rules they are proposing but also keeping the current market safe, secure and high quality market like it is,” Wagner said.
The DCC is looking for any feedback by April 17. Public comment can be emailed to DCCRules@com.ohio.gov and CSIPublicComments@governor.ohio.gov.
The complete list of new rules:
OAC 1301:18-1-01 DEFINITIONS (Amended)
OAC 1301:18-3-01 CANNABIS ENTITY DISTANCE FROM PROHIBITED FACILITIES (New)
OAC 1301:18-3-03 OWNERSHIP, FINANCIAL INTEREST, CONTROL (New)
OAC 1301:18-3-04 DISCLOSURE OF OWNERSHIP, FINANCIAL INTEREST, CONTROL (New)
OAC 1301:18-3-05 NOTICE OF INTENT (New)
OAC 1301:18-3-06 CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP (New)
OAC 1301:18-3-07 CHANGE OF ENTITY NAME OR REGISTERED TRADE NAME (New)
OAC 1301:18-3-08 FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (New)
OAC 1301:18-3-15 FACILITY VISITORS (New)
OAC 1301:18-3-16 WASTE DISPOSAL (New)
OAC 1301:18-7-01 DISPENSARY CERTIFICATE OF OPERATION (New)
OAC 1301:18-7-02 OPERATING PROCEDURES AND QUALITY ASSURANCE (New)
OAC 1301:18-7-03 DISPENSARY DESIGNTED RESPONSIBLE PARTY (New)
OAC 1301:18-7-05 MINIMUM SECURITY AND SURVEILLANCE REQUIREMENTS (New)
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