After months of regulatory delays, 98 dispensaries in Ohio have been granted licenses to sell recreational marijuana, marking the first day residents over 21 can legally purchase the substance for non-medical use. Although some dispensaries chose to open their doors early, many began welcoming customers on Tuesday, providing a glimpse into the state’s emerging recreational marijuana market.
In Cincinnati, Jeff Riede, a 55-year-old resident of Madisonville, made the first purchase at Sunnyside dispensary. Having waited in his car since Monday evening, Riede was determined to be first in line. “Yeah, I slept in my car,” he said. “This is pretty epic to me. I wanted to be the first one here.”
In Columbus, Bloom Medicinals opened to a line of about 20 eager customers looking to buy marijuana without a prescription. The dispensary offered a range of products, including edibles and flower, with prices between $17 and $100. Gavin McKenney, the general manager, pointed out that those familiar with Michigan’s prices might need to adjust to Ohio’s higher costs.
At Nar Reserve on Long Street and Grant Avenue, the line was shorter than anticipated. Customers waited to buy edibles and flower. Linda McAlexander, a 70-year-old with asthma, expressed her enthusiasm about Ohio’s move toward recreational marijuana. “Ohio is so conservative, it’s ridiculous,” she remarked.
A dispensary in Westerville saw a long queue that wrapped around the building, with customers waiting during their lunch breaks. Employees provided check-in services, answered questions, and distributed water bottles as the summer heat intensified.
Despite some initial worries about the impact on Ohio’s medical marijuana program, many customers felt relieved and excited about the new recreational market. “It feels good to know you can get it, and it’s actually safe, you know,” said 26-year-old Cameron Gregory. “I ran here right after work.”
Others saw Tuesday as a long-overdue step toward legalization. “It feels like I’m being treated as an adult, as opposed to a criminal,” said 50-year-old Troy Stanley. “I’ve been persecuted and prosecuted for the last 40 years over something that should have been made legal a long time ago.”
As recreational marijuana sales continue to expand across Ohio, residents are enthusiastic about exploring the new legal market.
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