COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- It's been four months since legal sales of recreational marijuana started throughout Ohio and sales are still booming.
Dispensaries are continuing to navigate the increase in demand while following rules from the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control.
Some local dispensaries like the Nar Reserve have seen roughly 3,000 to 6,000 new customers since August, noting the need to consistently have product on hand. Staff member Darius Walters shared that the price of products is still an issue for some customers, along with other factors.
“We've heard a lot of positive and negative feedback, you know, people want cheaper weed,” Walters said. “They want to be able to have that convenience of paying with debit cards and credit cards and cash and they do want the, you know, leniency of just walking in, not having to show their ID, but they also appreciate us and that we're able to provide in the first place.”
Even with the cons that come with working in the Ohio cannabis industry, the higher number of sales has still been great to see.
"In the past four months, we have seen a huge influx in our increase of demand,” Walters said. “We have been able to service the community with a lot of hot deals, a lot of house specials to bring them in to also increase the cart, to buy other, you know, premium items that are for sale."
Dispensaries are also currently at a standstill, waiting to see if the sale of pre-rolled joints or certain advertising and marketing tactics might be approved in new guidelines from the DCC, but there is one rule that is currently hard to adapt to.
"Our gummies are also going to be ten packs, no more high dosage,” Walters said. “There may be a difference in our home grow as well has to be determined, but those small changes do affect a lot on both sides (recreation and medicinal) and additionally adult use. So, we'll see what happens. It affects that person that actually needs higher doses.”
In a statement, the DCC said, in part, “The Division’s proposed rules set the THC for non-medical edibles at 10 mg per serving and 100 mg per package. As part of the rule-drafting process, the division researched the approach taken by other states in this regard, and 10 mg per serving is squarely in line with what other states have established for their non-medical programs.”
Over the past four months, adult use cannabis has accounted for about $200 million worth of sales in Ohio.
