What to expect at an Ohio marijuana dispensary

Cannabis is now legal for personal use in Ohio — so I visited my nearest dispensary to check it out.

Why it matters: I never expected to publish a sentence like that, but non-medical marijuana is now for sale at nearly 100 shops across the state.

---

• If you're feeling nervous or just wondering how it works, I'm here to help.

Driving the news: I visited Terrasana near Grandview Heights on Wednesday, the second day of legal sales.

• It was the first dispensary to open in Central Ohio when medical marijuana sales began in 2019 .

How it works: During an ID check at the front desk, I let them know I was a walk-in recreational customer (you can also pre-order online).

• I was then permitted to enter the sales floor in a separate room.
• This shop accepts cash and debit cards.

💭 My thought bubble: Don't be afraid to ask for help.

• I appreciated the "budtender" explaining to me the different products behind the counter and their effects — such as relaxation, sleepiness or euphoria — depending on the strain of the cannabis plant they contain.

The vibe: It felt like a pharmacy mixed with an urgent care office. There was a security guard present and, overall, it was a clean, efficient and friendly operation.

• Surprisingly, there was hardly a line. I was in and out in 15 minutes.

Between the lines: Prices will be elevated at the start as supply and demand stabilizes.

• A pack of 10 edible gummies at Terrasana cost $20-60, depending on potency.
• In Michigan, where recreational sales started in 2019, this pack would likely cost less than $10, WTOL reports .

The bottom line: Though it was a positive experience, I still felt a bit of stigma walking into a business to buy recreational marijuana.

• I guess the nerves are understandable as a lifetime resident of a state where doing so has always been illegal.

😅 Is this how Westerville folks felt in 2006, when an Uptown business finally served beer legally for the first time ?

Got more questions? Check out the state's FAQ .

The sales counter at Trulieve near Westerville, another area dispensary that launched recreational marijuana sales on Tuesday. Photo: Courtesy of Trulieve