Cannabis companies are set to begin adult-use sales in Ohio on Aug. 6.

The state adopted medical cannabis in 2016, with sales beginning in early 2019. Voters approved adult-use cannabis last November after an effort spearheaded by The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol got the initiative on the ballot.

Ascend Wellness Holdings Inc. is offering adult-use products at its dispensaries in Coshocton, Cincinnati and Sandusky. The company will also welcome non-medical customers at its dispensary in Piqua on Aug. 7.

"As we proudly announce the start of the transition of our Ohio stores to accommodate non-medical customers, we are excited about the new opportunities this brings to both Ascend and the communities we serve," said Ascend CEO John Hartmann. "We are well-positioned to serve both segments of the market, maintaining our commitment to our current medical patients while embracing new non-medical customers. We are committed to responsibly meeting the evolving needs of our patients and customers and dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of safety, compliance and quality. This milestone is a testament to the hard work of our team and the trust our community places in us, and we look forward to continuing to serve them with product and service excellence."

Ohio's adult-use customers can also visit AYR Wellness' dispensaries in Woodmere, Goshen and Dayton.

"The launch of adult-use cannabis sales in Ohio provides an excellent opportunity to expand access to new customers through our growing dispensary network in the Buckeye State,” said Julie Winter, SVP and market GM for Ohio at AYR. “The people of Ohio spoke loudly with an overwhelming passage of Issue 2 back in November, making it clear that there is a strong appetite for tested and trusted cannabis products throughout the state. We now look forward to supporting our partners as they serve people of Ohio across the three AYR-branded dispensaries in the state as well as our robust wholesale presence.”

The Cannabist Companry reported it has received eight dual-use licenses from the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control, including five dual-use dispensary licenses, to begin sales of non-medical cannabis products at the company’s retail locations and through its wholesale channels.

The Cannabist Company operates four Columbia Care retail dispensaries in Dayton, Logan, Marietta and Monroe, in addition to its gLeaf dispensary in Warren. The company also plans to expand its footprint in Ohio by opening three additional retail locations. It was recently given site approval for a potential dispensary in the central part of the state. The Cannabist Company has nearly 120,000 total sq. ft. of cultivation and manufacturing space across its two facilities in Mt. Orab and Columbus, which have also been approved for adult-use operations.

“The Cannabist Company is looking forward to welcoming new customers to our five dispensaries and to offering our premium cannabis products to our wholesale partners as non-medical sales kick off throughout the state," CEO David Hart said. "As a company dedicated to providing unparalleled support to our patients in Ohio, we are excited about the opportunity to extend this same level of service to non-medical customers. We’ve always been strong advocates for safe, regulated adult-use markets where customers can obtain trusted products. We commend lawmakers and regulators for their swift action and ability to get a program implemented less than a year after receiving the mandate from voters."

Cresco Labs noted its Yellow Springs cultivation and processing facility and all five of its Sunnyside dispensaries have been approved to serve both medical and adult-use customers. Cresco Labs operates dispensaries in Cincinnati, Newark, Chillicothe, Marion and Wintersville. The company has the right and intends to open three more dispensaries in Ohio, pending approval from the Ohio Department of Commerce.

“The acceptance of cannabis continues to grow with Ohio becoming the 24th state to launch an adult-use cannabis program," said Charlie Bachtell, CEO and co-founder of Cresco Labs. "This is a tipping point with almost half of all states allowing adult-use cannabis and more adopting common-sense regulations every day. Our Ohio team is ready to welcome new customers to our incredibly popular Sunnyside stores, which are twice as productive as the state average, and introduce them to our award-winning portfolio of branded products.”

Curaleaf Holdings Inc. announced its Newark location will open for both adult-use and medical patients. Additionally, customers can purchase the company's cannabis products from third-party state-licensed dispensaries across the state. Curaleaf’s Cuyahoga Falls location is open to medical patients and will open to adult-use customers at a later date, pending regulatory approval.

"We have been eagerly anticipating the opportunity to serve a new community of Ohioans and are thrilled to be a part of the first group of operators to kick off adult-use sales in the state," said Curaleaf CEO Matt Darin. "We firmly believe that Ohio has the potential to be one of the nation's most exciting cannabis markets and have prepared for this moment by increasing cultivation capacity and prioritizing flower availability to accommodate the launch. Having effectively transitioned several medical markets to adult-use, we look forward to introducing the state's adult-use consumers to our carefully curated brand and product collection to help them find the best-suited products to meet their diverse needs. Thanks to state leadership and the voters of Ohio, we now begin the process of building a new market that supports adult-use and medical customers alike."

Green Thumb Industries Inc.'s RISE Dispensaries in Cleveland, Lakewood on Detroit, Lakewood on Madison, Lorain and Toledo also will begin adult-use sales. Each dispensary will donate profits from the first day of legal sales to a local nonprofit organization, including Lakewood Alive, LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland, Lorain County Urban League and Toledo Black Queer Collective.

Green Thumb began serving the Ohio medical cannabis community in 2019. It operates a manufacturing facility in Toledo.

"Our team is honored to celebrate this historic milestone with the people of Ohio as the Buckeye State kicks off legal cannabis sales,” said Ben Kovler, Green Thumb founder, chairman and CEO. “Safety and product quality are the cornerstones of our operations and we look forward to introducing more Ohioans to our industry-leading brands like RYTHM, incredibles and Beboe.”

Ohio-based Klutch Cannabis reported two of its dispensaries were among the first to receive dual-use dispensary licenses from the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control. The company’s locations in Canton and Lorain will begin adult-use sales Aug. 6. 

Klutch’s locations in Cleveland and Northfield Village are expected to begin adult-use sales in the first quarter of 2025 upon approval by the Division of Cannabis Control. Three additional dispensary licenses issued through the Division's 10(b) licensing process will be brought online later in 2025.

Trulieve also is set to begin adult-use sales at its locations in Beavercreek, Columbus, and Westerville.

"We are excited to be among the first group of operators to launch adult-use sales in Ohio following a successful ballot initiative last year," said Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers. "We are committed to maintaining excellent service standards for our existing medical patients while welcoming new adult use customers to our dispensaries."

Verano will begin adult-use sales at five Zen Leaf dispensaries in Bowling Green, Canton, Cincinnati and Dayton, with its Newark location expected to follow pending approval from state officials. 

Launched in 2018, Verano’s Ohio operations also include a 22,000-sq.-ft. cultivation and processing facility in Canton. Verano will also open a sixth Zen Leaf dispensary in Antwerp, located within a 30-minute drive of Fort Wayne, Indiana, near the state border.

“Today marks a significant step forward for Ohio, and the nation at large, as we celebrate the end of cannabis prohibition and turn the page on a new chapter that will deliver countless benefits for the Buckeye State in the form of job creation, economic development, investment, state and local revenue and social progress,” said George Archos, Verano founder and CEO. “We’re honored to participate in this historic milestone, and proud to stand alongside Ohioans as we make history together.”