Ohioans had great expectations for recreational marijuana after voting to legalize personal use of the plant in Nov. 2023. According to data from the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control, total marijuana sales have reached over $2.7 billion as of mid-June. Non-medical cannabis comprises about $587 million of that figure, with Ohio expected to bring on over 114 new dispensaries during 2025.
Meanwhile, a March report from cannabis wholesale platform LeafLink named Ohio as a market poised to contribute more than 75% of cannabis sales growth over the next three years. But observers of Ohio's fledgling marketplace believe it has a ways to go, especially with Michigan's well-established scene offering cheaper products and more extensive inventory.
Tim Johnson, a cannabis advocate who advised state legislature on the 2023 marijuana initiative, said Ohio has yet to reach its potential in the adult-use community. Excessive pricing and ineffective marketing have driven customers to buy illegally, cultivate home grows, or head to Michigan, where 45 dispensaries sit right on the border.
"It's not all the fault of the license holders – it's got to do with the restrictive rules and regulations of the program," said Johnson.
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