Ohio Cannabis License Solutions

Our experienced team at Cannabis License Experts (CLE) will assist you in obtaining your Ohio cannabis license quickly and with an unrivaled success record. Having to repeat your Ohio cannabis license application procedure can set your business back by months and substantially reduce your earning potential. Book your free consultation today and let us show you how we’ll help you on your path to a Ohio cannabis license and much more.
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Market Potential

Ohio is a highly competitive medical market with limited cannbis licenses and a complicated, lengthy application process. With a heavy emphasis on medical approaches to marijuana use as well as limited product types permitted, the state legalized medical marijuana in 2016. Ohio’s Medical Marijuana Control Program was created by House Bill 523 taking effect on September 8, 2016. Current discussions include considerations for Adult Use marijuana and options to tax marijuana products.

Book a free consultation today to learn more about how Cannabis License Experts can assist you and your team on your path to Ohio cannbis licenses.

Ohio Cannabis License Requirements, Timelines, and Selection

Basic Ohio cannabis license applications for any Ohio cannabis license type include, at a minimum, a business plan, operations plan, and patient plan. Ohio is split into 31 dispensary districts, allowing it to chart where the state's 56 existing dispensaries that have permission to operate already exist.

There are two remaining dispensaries that have not yet received permission to open to patients. Product type limitations include permittance of oils, tinctures, plant material, edibles, lotions, creams, and patches only. The law prohibits the use of medical marijuana by smoking or combustion, however, it does allow for vaping. Ohio utilizes third party Ohio cannabis license application reviews that are blind with identifying information about the applicant redacted and/or omitted. No individual reviewer involved in the scoring of Ohio cannabis license applications provided more than one-third of a consensus vote toward a portion of the application’s final score. The first 57 dispensary licenses that were awarded through Competitive Scoring with the application earning the highest rate receiving a license, however, The Board of Pharmacy has since updated the process in hopes this will streamline licensing and avoid lawsuits from unsuccessful Ohio cannabis license applicants. Licensing is overseen by The Ohio Department of Commerce and The State Board of Pharmacy.

The State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy released a second RFA on September 20th, 2021 to license up to 73 additional dispensary licenses through the new lottery selection process which closed on November 18th, 2021. The results from the lottery selection can be found on the MMCP website.

Note: The current application period for cultivators is closed. To get updates on new application periods, sign up for updates on the MMCP homepage.
Ohio Cannabis License Requirements

Hear from Our Successful Clients

Some of the World’s Largest Brands have Trusted CLE to Support their Cannabis Journey.

5 Star Google Reviews

Matthew Caton Yield Cannab

Canna License Experts, and their team were retained by our company to help us along the way with a retail canna license. Brian Wolf along with Kalpna Mistry and their team of experts were there the entire way through the process. Thanks again to Brian and Kalpna for all you support from our family at YIELD Cannab Co.

Lin Yan GMLL Pharma

We have contacted a few licensing company before I decided to contact with Canna licensing Experts. So far I think I have made the right choice and I am happy with the work they have done for us. The team answer questions promptly and never leave us alone. Not to mention their charge are reasonable comparing the similar type of consulting company and quality of their job.

Joseph Dow Dow Testing Labs

Brian and Kalpna at Cannabis License Experts were very pleasant, informative, and knowledgeable regarding licensing. They helped us fill out all the forms needed and guided us through the entire process. I am sure that without their guidance our application would still be in process, or have been dismissed because of some missing information.

Financial Requirements Ohio cannabis license application

Financial Requirements

Applicants must pay fees starting from $5,000 - $10,000, per Ohio cannabis license application. Ohio cannabis license applicants must provide proof they have adequate liquid assets to cover all expenses and costs of the first year, currently defined by the state as a minimum of $250,000. Proof of financial ability may include banking and financial statements and/or CPA letters. Furthermore, each Ohio cannabis license applicant must establish and maintain an escrow account or surety bond in the amount of $50,000 as a condition precedent to receiving a medical marijuana certificate of operation license. If awarded a Ohio cannabis license to operate, additional licensing fees per license may apply.

Ohio Cannabis License Types

Ohio permits the following license types as described below:
*Two licenses awarded by the Ohio Department of Commerce – Hocking Technical College in Nelsonville & Central State University in Wilberforce.
Ohio Cannabis License Types
Total # of Ohio Cannabis Licenses 94
Cultivation: 24
Processor16
Dispensary52
County population in 2019303,940
Basic Demographic Information
Resources include the US Census Bureau, City-Data.com, and any additional relevant resources.
Total # of Counties88
Total # of Cities/Towns2,239 cities, towns, and villages, and 904 special districts

Cincinnati

32
Median Age
$46K
Medial Income
$170K
Median Home Price
$775/Month
Fair Market Rent

City of Cleveland

35

Median Age

$42K

Medical Income

$205K

Median Home Price

$725M

Fair Market Rent

381,009

Country Population in 2019

Business Climate ohio cannabis licensing

Business Climate

Overall, the majority of the state has embraced the formal legalization of medical cannabis and continues to consider passage of Ohio cannabis recreational use. With few notable exceptions, licensing of all cannabis operations continues to be moving at a reasonable pace when application windows open.

Considerations for potential operators in the State of Ohio includes Employment Contracts and Union Organizing in this Right to work work.

Real Estate & Zoning

There are applicable restrictions for certain Ohio cannabis license types with regard to geographic proximity to prohibited businesses. For instance, a dispensary may not be less than 500 feet from a school, church, public library, public playground, or public park. Additionally, local municipalities may choose to impose further zoning laws. Further restrictions include that applicants may only submit one Ohio cannabis license application per land parcel and are required to have control over any parcel for which they apply, either by ownership or lease.

Note: Testing lab and processor provisional licensees have six months to build their facilities and pass a state inspection before beginning operations.
Real Estate Zoning Ohio cannabis licensing
Medical Marijuana Facility License in Ohio

Interested in obtaining a Medical Marijuana Facility License in Ohio and unsure where to start?

Ohio cannabis license applications for new Ohio cannabis license applicants are not currently being accepted however this could change as the state's medical marijuana program matures. Cannabis License Experts can help make sure your team is prepared for when this process reopens, please reach out to us today to inquire about business planning for future application rounds.

Not sure what license type is right for you? CLE can assist in developing a preliminary business and feasibility plan.

City of Columbus

32

Median Age

$57K

Medical Income

$173K

Median Home Price

$980M

Fair Market Rent

898,553

Country Population in 2019

One-Stop Business Solutions Provider

When you partner with CLE, you are able to leverage our proven knowledge and best industry resources to provide you a complete Cannabis Business Solution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Ohio permits the sale of cannabis edibles to medical card holders within the state. Edibles are permitted to be produced by medical marijuana processors and are to be distributed in 10 mg servings. Currently 37 medical marijuana processors have received licensing and are operational.
Ohio is not currently accepting applications for medical marijuana grower licenses. Ohio’s last round of applications closed in 2017, the state has not issued any additional medical marijuana grower licenses since. To keep updated on Ohio’s application progress please subscribe to our newsletter.
No, Ohio is not currently accepting applications for any cannabis license type. Ohio most recently issued a 2nd RFA to issue up to 73 additional medical cannabis dispensary licenses, this lottery based application process closed on November 18th, 2022. At this time Ohio has not indicated that they will be issuing any additional licenses.
Cannabis cultivation is the process of growing cannabis within a regulated environment for the consumption via a medical or adult-use cannabis program. Generally cultivation refers to the agricultural activities associated with the propagation and growing of cannabis. Cannabis processing is when you manufacture finished cannabis products, packaging of dried flowers or manufacture and package cannabis-based products (i.e. extracts, edibles, and topicals). To be able to produce cannabis and cannabis derived products commercially a specific license is required, requirements depend on the state in which you are locating this business.
The fees for a cannabis cultivation license vary greatly depending on the state in which the facility is to be located. Also facility build out costs vary greatly depending on the type of cannabis cultivation facility (indoor, mixed-light green house, outdoor). Depending on the facility type a cultivation facility can range from 2 million to 20 million dollars.
No, because cannabis is not federally legal in the United States cannabis and cannabis products which may be legal at a state level cannot travel interstate. Cannabis and cannabis products created in a state must be dispensed through licensed retailers within that state.

Don't Know Where To Begin? Get Started Now

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis at the state level and new jurisdictions are consistently developing ordinance’s designing the framework for licensing at the local level.
CLE can develop a preliminary business and feasibility plan to help give an understanding of business viability within the local climate. We also provide you with insights and develop strategies with respect to facility design, construction, security compliance and digital marketing to get you sales ready.
In order to get started, reach out to one of our regulatory experts today to learn more about Cannabis Business Solutions.
Cannabis License
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