Tuesday was a historic day in Ohio as recreational cannabis sales officially began, with customers and dispensary owners alike celebrating the milestone.
Andy Rayburn, owner of Amplify dispensary on Coventry Road in Cleveland Heights, greeted customers outside his store, basking in the novelty of the day. "It's awesome, it's electric," Rayburn said. "These people are excited to be making history, and so am I."
Amplify was not alone in experiencing the excitement, as long lines formed outside dispensaries across Northeast Ohio and other parts of the state. The day marked the culmination of a nine-month wait for Ohioans to legally purchase marijuana, following the passage of an initiated statute last November by 57% of voters. The law allows adults aged 21 and older to buy and possess up to 2.5 ounces of flower and 15 grams of extract, such as edibles or vape cartridges, per day.
The Ohio Division of Cannabis Control permitted 98 existing medical marijuana dispensaries to open for recreational use on Tuesday, with most of them doing so. These dispensaries will continue to serve both medical and recreational customers, with more expected to open in the future.
Rayburn entered the cannabis industry after witnessing a friend with terminal cancer experience relief from using marijuana. He now owns Buckeye Relief, a company that grows and processes cannabis in Eastlake. "They grow the best flower in Ohio," Rayburn said, referring to the dried cannabis buds that haven't been processed into other products.
Andre Harvell, a customer at Amplify, expressed his enthusiasm after purchasing products. "I'm feeling good, feeling blessed," Harvell said, sharing his plans to sample his newly legal products while playing video games like Call of Duty or NBA 2K. "They're going to see me every day. I don't have to drive to Michigan anymore."
At Shangri-La Dispensary on St. Clair Avenue in Cleveland, manager Michael Hughes reported serving 60 customers in just three hours, a significant increase from their typical daily volume before recreational cannabis was legalized. "If we stay on this trajectory, we'll do five, six times the business we usually do," Hughes said. Despite some products selling out, the store still had plenty of inventory left. Hughes expects prices to stabilize once the initial rush of new customers settles.
Tajhi Thomas of Garfield Heights visited Shangri-La Dispensary during his lunch break to purchase some indica strain of cannabis. "It stopped me from having to hit up one of my guys," Thomas said. While excited about the legalization, Thomas noted the "doctor's office feel" of the dispensary and the strange sensation of cannabis being legal after years of potential jail time for possession. "I know some guys who got jammed up for this," Thomas said.
While most dispensaries experienced a smooth opening day, Nectar Ohio in Euclid faced zoning issues that limited them to serving only medical marijuana patients. The company is working with the city to resolve the matter, according to Michael Getlin, the director of licensing for the company.
Dan Shaker, the general manager of Green Thumb Industries, which owns RISE Dispensary and several others, expressed his pleasant surprise at the turnout, given the limited advertising allowed by state regulations. He anticipates momentum to continue building throughout the week. "I think the momentum is going to keep building," Shaker said.
Mara Trenary, a customer at RISE Dispensary in Lakewood, previously lived in Colorado and is used to being in places where marijuana is legal. "It's about time," Trenary said.
At Bloom Medicinals in Columbus, one of Ohio's top-selling medical dispensaries, customers began lining up at 7:30 a.m. for the 8 a.m. opening. Sales on Tuesday were 2.5 to three times their normal volume, according to Nicole Stark, the company's co-founder.
As Ohioans adjust to the new dispensary experience, they will encounter a learning curve regarding product visibility, smell, and Ohio's unique drug measurements. Troy Verse, a lead agent at Bloom, explained that Ohio uses a 10th of an ounce measurement, which can lead to sticker shock for customers used to street measurements like eighths or quarters of an ounce.
However, dispensaries offer the advantage of providing detailed information about pesticide use, THC and CBD levels, and other aspects of the plants, which is not available when purchasing from illegal dealers. "You get whatever you get," Verse said of buying from dealers.
The historic day marked a significant shift in Ohio's relationship with cannabis, as the state embraces a new era of legal recreational use. As more dispensaries open and Ohioans become accustomed to the legal cannabis market, the industry is expected to continue growing and evolving.
Andy Rayburn, owner of Amplify dispensary on Coventry Road in Cleveland Heights, greeted customers outside his store, basking in the novelty of the day. "It's awesome, it's electric," Rayburn said. "These people are excited to be making history, and so am I."
Amplify was not alone in experiencing the excitement, as long lines formed outside dispensaries across Northeast Ohio and other parts of the state. The day marked the culmination of a nine-month wait for Ohioans to legally purchase marijuana, following the passage of an initiated statute last November by 57% of voters. The law allows adults aged 21 and older to buy and possess up to 2.5 ounces of flower and 15 grams of extract, such as edibles or vape cartridges, per day.
The Ohio Division of Cannabis Control permitted 98 existing medical marijuana dispensaries to open for recreational use on Tuesday, with most of them doing so. These dispensaries will continue to serve both medical and recreational customers, with more expected to open in the future.
Rayburn entered the cannabis industry after witnessing a friend with terminal cancer experience relief from using marijuana. He now owns Buckeye Relief, a company that grows and processes cannabis in Eastlake. "They grow the best flower in Ohio," Rayburn said, referring to the dried cannabis buds that haven't been processed into other products.
Andre Harvell, a customer at Amplify, expressed his enthusiasm after purchasing products. "I'm feeling good, feeling blessed," Harvell said, sharing his plans to sample his newly legal products while playing video games like Call of Duty or NBA 2K. "They're going to see me every day. I don't have to drive to Michigan anymore."
At Shangri-La Dispensary on St. Clair Avenue in Cleveland, manager Michael Hughes reported serving 60 customers in just three hours, a significant increase from their typical daily volume before recreational cannabis was legalized. "If we stay on this trajectory, we'll do five, six times the business we usually do," Hughes said. Despite some products selling out, the store still had plenty of inventory left. Hughes expects prices to stabilize once the initial rush of new customers settles.
Tajhi Thomas of Garfield Heights visited Shangri-La Dispensary during his lunch break to purchase some indica strain of cannabis. "It stopped me from having to hit up one of my guys," Thomas said. While excited about the legalization, Thomas noted the "doctor's office feel" of the dispensary and the strange sensation of cannabis being legal after years of potential jail time for possession. "I know some guys who got jammed up for this," Thomas said.
While most dispensaries experienced a smooth opening day, Nectar Ohio in Euclid faced zoning issues that limited them to serving only medical marijuana patients. The company is working with the city to resolve the matter, according to Michael Getlin, the director of licensing for the company.
Dan Shaker, the general manager of Green Thumb Industries, which owns RISE Dispensary and several others, expressed his pleasant surprise at the turnout, given the limited advertising allowed by state regulations. He anticipates momentum to continue building throughout the week. "I think the momentum is going to keep building," Shaker said.
Mara Trenary, a customer at RISE Dispensary in Lakewood, previously lived in Colorado and is used to being in places where marijuana is legal. "It's about time," Trenary said.
At Bloom Medicinals in Columbus, one of Ohio's top-selling medical dispensaries, customers began lining up at 7:30 a.m. for the 8 a.m. opening. Sales on Tuesday were 2.5 to three times their normal volume, according to Nicole Stark, the company's co-founder.
As Ohioans adjust to the new dispensary experience, they will encounter a learning curve regarding product visibility, smell, and Ohio's unique drug measurements. Troy Verse, a lead agent at Bloom, explained that Ohio uses a 10th of an ounce measurement, which can lead to sticker shock for customers used to street measurements like eighths or quarters of an ounce.
However, dispensaries offer the advantage of providing detailed information about pesticide use, THC and CBD levels, and other aspects of the plants, which is not available when purchasing from illegal dealers. "You get whatever you get," Verse said of buying from dealers.
The historic day marked a significant shift in Ohio's relationship with cannabis, as the state embraces a new era of legal recreational use. As more dispensaries open and Ohioans become accustomed to the legal cannabis market, the industry is expected to continue growing and evolving.