Ohio Marijuana Dispensary License

What Is a Marijuana Dispensary License in Ohio?

A dispensary license in Ohio is legal authorization granted by the state through the Ohio Department of Commerce or Division of Cannabis Control, allowing the license holder to operate a marijuana dispensary in the state. A licensed marijuana dispensary license permits the sale of marijuana to persons authorized under Ohio law to possess marijuana.

Does Ohio License Marijuana Dispensaries?

Yes. The Ohio Department of Commerce, through the state's medical marijuana control program, licenses qualified entities to operate as medical marijuana dispensaries in the state. Without this license, no individual or entity can legally sell medical marijuana in the state. Also, following the legalization of non-medical cannabis in the state, medical marijuana dispensaries looking to sell recreational cannabis legally in Ohio must convert their current dispensary licenses to dual-use cannabis licenses.

What are the Different Types of Cannabis Dispensary Licenses in Ohio?

The Ohio Division of Cannabis Control issues the dual-use license and the 10(B) dispensary licenses. The dual-use cannabis license is available to a current medical marijuana dispensary wishing to participate in the recreational cannabis market at the existing location. The 10 (B) dispensary license is issued to medical marijuana dispensaries with a certificate of operation or provisional license, with no common ownership or control with any marijuana cultivator or process. A 10(B) dispensary license can also be issued to a Level I or Level II medical marijuana cultivator with a certificate of operation.

How to Apply for a Marijuana Dispensary License in Ohio?

The application window for a medical marijuana dispensary license is currently not open in Ohio. When the Board of Pharmacy in the state licensed applicants earlier, it held two RFA (Request for Application) periods in 2017 and 2021. For details about the 2021 application window, see the RFA II tab on the dispensaries page of the Department of Commerce website.

To complete an application for a dual-use cannabis license, you must complete the application form, dual-use application attestation, and the tax authorization form. The completed application form must be saved with the file name "Business Name-MMCP License Number-Dual-Use License Application." The completed and signed attestation must be saved in PDF with the file name "Business Name-MMCP License Number-Dual-Use Application Attestation," while the signed the completed and signed tax authorization form must be saved in PDF with the file name "Business Name – MMCP License Number – Dual-Use Application Tax

Authorization Form.” Note that the dual-use and tax authorization forms must be scanned as photographs of the completed forms are not accepted. All documents responding to a single question must be combined into a single file. All attachments must be saved with the naming convention “Business Name – MMCP License Number – Question Number.”

Note that if you have a cultivator, processor, and two dispensary licenses, you must submit an application for your cultivator, an application for your processor, and two separate applications for your two dispensary licenses. You can submit your application in one of two ways:

• Option 1: Email the complete application packet to DCCApplications@com.ohio.gov with the subject line “Business Name – MMCP License Number – Dual-Use Application.” The email address can accept up to 150 MB of attachments.
• Option 2: Drop the complete application packet in the State of Ohio File Drop. You must enter the recipient email as DCCApplications@com.ohio.gov. Afterward, email DCCApplications@com.ohio.gov with the subject line “Business Name – MMCP License Number – Dual-Use Application,” and indicate that your files have been submitted in the File Drop.

After submitting your application, you will receive an automatic response from DCCApplications@com.ohio.gov that your email has been received. Subsequently, you will be issued a provisional license via the DCC eLicense portal. Note that a provisional licensee is not permitted to sell non-medical cannabis until a Certificate of Operation is obtained. For more information on obtaining a dual-use cannabis license, see the DCC application instructions for a dual-use cannabis license.

In order to apply for a 10(B) dispensary license, you must complete the 10(B) application packet, which includes:

• Fillable PDF Application document
• 10(B) Applicant Attestation
• Tax Authorization Form
• $5,000 application fee payment. The fee can be paid directly on the DCC eLicense portal via ACH or credit card.

In addition, all documents responding to a single question must be combined into a single file. All attachments must be saved with the naming convention “Business Name – Applicant Confirmation Number – Question Number.” Submission of 10(B) applications follows the same methods as the dual-use cannabis license. However, the subject line for the email must read “Business Name – Applicant Confirmation Number – 10(B) Dispensary Application.”

Note that any complete applications received after 5:00pm on June 14, 2024, but prior to a date established by the Division, may not be entered into the drawing and be entered into Phase Two site selection. The applicants will be entered into Phase Two at the bottom of the drawing rank, in the order in which completed applications were received.

For more information on 10(B) dispensary license applications, see the DCC 10 (B) Application Instructions guide.

How Much Does a Marijuana Dispensary License Cost in Ohio?

Under the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program, the application fee for a dispensary license is $5,000, while the initial fee for the license (certificate of operation) is $70,000. The biennial license renewal fee also costs $70,000. However, there is no fee associated with an application to convert a current medical marijuana dispensary license to a dual-use license. If you are applying for a 10(B) dispensary license, there is a $5,000 application fee.

Can Marijuana Dispensary Licensees Hold Other Cannabis Licenses in Ohio?

In Ohio, marijuana dispensary licensees can hold other marijuana licenses, such as cultivation and processing licenses. However, they cannot hold a marijuana testing laboratory license.