One month after Ohio began selling adult-use cannabis, dispensaries in Columbus are reporting continued strong demand. Locals Cannabis and Trulieve Cannabis Corp., both with locations in the city, have seen a sustained influx of customers, with no signs of slowing down.
Mandy Morton, owner of Locals Cannabis, has observed a significant increase in business. “We’ve had at least six times the amount of people that we had before when we were just medical,” Morton told WOWK-TV. “So the non-medical crowd has definitely come in in full force.”
Trulieve, a multi-state cannabis operator (MSO), has experienced similar success. Nick Rassler, director of state operations, highlighted the consistency in customer visits. “We’re still seeing roughly the same volume of people each week that we saw the first launch week,” Rassler said. “I think that that’ll continue to grow.”
Both companies are noticing a growing sophistication among customers. “The first couple weeks we had a longer consultation process with new customers talking them through what to expect in dispensary sales and what products we have available,” Morton added.
The burgeoning Ohio marijuana market is attracting the attention of several MSOs, including Verano Holdings Corp., the Cannabist Company Holdings Inc., Curaleaf Holdings Inc., Rise Dispensaries, Acreage Holdings Inc., Green Thumb Industries Inc., and Cresco Labs Inc.
Financially, the sector is thriving. According to the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control, adult-use marijuana sales have already surpassed $44 million as of Saturday.
However, this economic boom is not without its challenges. Increased sales have prompted concerns among state lawmakers about road safety. A bill is currently under consideration that would allow law enforcement to conduct oral fluid tests to check for drug impairment in drivers.
Research from UC Davis, however, suggests that the presence of THC in bodily fluids might not directly correlate with actual driving impairment, casting doubt on the effectiveness of such legislative measures.
As the debate over safety measures continues, Ohio’s adult-use cannabis market remains poised for continued growth and sustained consumer engagement.
