Dispensaries question state timelines for marijuana sales as market surpasses $50M

COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — Across Ohio the sales of recreational marijuana have surpassed $50 million, just over a month since the Aug. 6 decision that gave dual-use dispensaries the green light to start selling recreational marijuana.

Although the sale of recreational marijuana has been quite profitable over the past month, dispensaries still cannot put up celebratory decorations, sell pre-rolled joints or refer to recreational marijuana as anything other than “non-medical.”

Locals Cannabis operations manager Gillian McCraken is still hoping for some new rules.

“We have had a lot of people coming in and asking for pre-rolls and things like that, or their typical things that they see out of state,” McCracken said.

The Division of Cannabis Control was set to announce new rules regarding the sale of pre-rolls and dispensaries advertising options on Sept. 7, but they have yet to be released to the public or the store operators.

“I’ve been checking my email every day to make sure to see if there has been any changes,” McCracken said. “Until then, we’ve just been instructed to follow that medical ruling.”

In a statement to NBC4 regarding if they expect to change those rules, the Division of Cannabis Control said, “The division’s role is to regulate licensed cannabis entities as to ensure health and safety. The proposed rules are drafted with that role, and goal, in mind.”

Until then, these dispensaries will continue to adhere to the current guidelines in place.

“Hopefully before the end of the month of September, we’ll know a little bit more,” McCracken said. “At least have a better idea of what the set rules will be for those patients and see if the medical patients will have a higher allotment of days or something like that, sort of to see if that makes it a little more balanced between the medical vs. non-medical.”

The Division of Cannabis Control has not released a specific date for when new rules would come out.

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