Ohios Green Boom: Inside the First Year of Legal Recreational Cannabis Sales

Ohio’s recreational cannabis industry is celebrating a major milestone: its first full year of legal sales. What began with cautious optimism has grown into a $200 million market, signaling a bright future for the Buckeye State’s budding cannabis sector.

When Ohio voters approved Issue 2 in November 2023, it marked a turning point, allowing adults to legally possess, grow, and smoke marijuana. However, the road to a fully functioning market wasn’t without its hurdles. Dispensaries spent months navigating regulatory processes to secure licenses and prepare for the August 2024 launch.

It was like a kid on Christmas morning, said Brian Wingfield, owner of Ohio Cannabis Co., describing the anticipation of opening day. His dispensaries were among the first 98 to receive certificates allowing recreational sales.

By December 2024, the industry had reached remarkable numbers: nearly 30,000 lbs. of cannabis flower and 3.5 million manufactured products, including edibles and concentrates, had been sold. Despite the strong start, early customers faced sticker shock, as Ohio’s prices were initially higher than in neighboring states. Data shows prices have since stabilized, making the market more competitive.

While dispensaries were busy adapting to the new legal framework, gas stations and vape shops continued selling hemp-derived THC products like delta-8, which remain unregulated. These synthetic cannabinoids often mimic the effects of traditional cannabis but lack the rigorous testing and oversight required for dispensary products.

Industry leaders, including Wingfield, have called for stricter mandates on these products, arguing they should undergo the same testing and licensing as recreational cannabis. We’re prioritizing safety and transparency, and these unregulated products undermine that mission, Wingfield said.

On the other side, retailers of delta-8 products argue that stricter rules could harm small businesses. Chris Voudris, owner of Vapor Haus, said that hemp-derived THC accounts for nearly a third of his sales. There’s room for better age restrictions, but an all-out ban isn’t the solution, he said.

Ohio’s first year of legalization wasn’t without controversy. Governor Mike DeWine and Senate President Matt Huffman, who opposed Issue 2, pushed for changes to recreational cannabis laws, including restricting home-grow provisions. However, legislative debates remained stalled throughout 2024, with little consensus on proposed rollbacks or stricter regulations.

Meanwhile, delta-8 THC also sparked intense debate, with lawmakers failing to agree on measures to regulate or restrict the products. Both issues are expected to resurface when the General Assembly reconvenes in 2025.

As the dust settles on Ohio’s first year of recreational cannabis sales, the focus now shifts to the future. Dispensaries are eyeing expansion opportunities, and regulators are working to streamline operations while addressing industry concerns.

The first year proved there’s demand for safe, legal cannabis in Ohio,” said Nikki Stanley, marketing director for Terrasana Cannabis. Our goal now is to build on that success while improving accessibility and affordability for our customers.

With $200 million in sales and a thriving market, Ohio’s cannabis industry has laid a strong foundation. But as debates over regulation and competition heat up, the path forward will require balancing public safety, market fairness, and consumer access.

What should Ohio focus on in its second year of legal cannabis?