OHIO, USA — The state is inching closer to recreational marijuana sales as the Division of Cannabis Control has started issuing certificates of operation.
The DCC’s licensing portal shows that as of Wednesday afternoon, 25 dual-use certificates of operation have been issued. None of these went to dispensaries.
Those include 12 dual-use processors, 12 dual-use cultivators and one dual-use testing laboratory.
In Franklin County, just three dual-use processors hold a certificate of operation and a single dual-use cultivator.
Jamie Crawford, DCC public information officer, said, “Given the fact that cultivators, processors and testing labs are less complicated than dispensaries – and to ensure an efficient supply chain – cultivators, processors and labs receive some priority over dispensaries when it comes to issuance of Certificates of Operation to help ensure that, once Certificates of Operation are issued to dispensaries, there is non-medical product available for adult consumers to purchase.”
When the application window opened for recreational marijuana sales, the DCC received 230 applications to convert medical marijuana licenses to dual-use cannabis licenses. There were an additional 190 applications for 10(B) dispensaries, which are additional dispensary licenses authorized through the recreational marijuana statute.
Crawford said there will be no set day when sales begin. Rather, it will happen as certificates of operation are issued to dispensaries.
Cresco Labs operates a massive facility in Yellow Springs in Greene County. This facility has received its operational certificates for it’s processing and cultivation side. Its retail side, Sunnyside Dispensary, is waiting on its certificate.
“The whole supply chain has to be licensed for dual-use, meaning for medical consumers and adult use over the age of 21. That includes the cultivators, the labs and the dispensaries which will be the last to be approved,” said Jason Erkes, Cresco Labs spokesperson.
With permits to grow and process, a company can start preparing products for its dispensaries to sell, but it cannot sell non-medical products. Erkes said they’re feeling confident that day is coming soon.
“Things are moving at a really quick pace. They’re starting to license and give certificates of operation to cultivators and growers. There are some labs that have their certificate to operate. The inspections have begun at the dispensary level,” he said.
Cresco Labs has been gearing up for the recreational launch for months. When 10TV visited the Yellow Springs facility in May, Cresco Labs had harvested 300 pounds of product earmarked for adult recreational use.