Lucas County Cannabis – Is It Legal & Where To Buy 2024

Is Cannabis Cultivation Legal in Lucas County?

Yes. Lucas County allows marijuana cultivation. To this day, recreational marijuana is illegal in Ohio, while medical marijuana was legalized in 2016. According to House Bill 523 of Ohio, the Ohio Department of Commerce is the governing body for regulating medical marijuana cultivation in the state.

There are two types of cultivation permits:

• Level I cultivators are authorized to operate an initial marijuana growing area of ​​25,000 square feet

• Level II growers are permitted to operate an initial marijuana growing area of ​​up to 3,000 square feet.

Section 3796.18 prohibits licensed growers from growing medical marijuana for personal or family use on public land. Outdoor cultivation is permitted, provided the area around the growing area is sufficiently lit and complies with the cultivator’s license application.

The law also prohibits growing facilities from being within 500 feet of a public library, school, public park, public playground, or church. Furthermore, cultivators are prohibited from altering the use or occupancy of the cultivating facility unless the department has been notified and the alterations have been approved.

Is Cannabis Manufacturing Legal in Lucas County?

Yes, marijuana manufacturing is allowed in Lucas County, but for medicinal purposes only. House Bill 523 states that the product label made by the processors/manufacturers should indicate the ratio of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol and prohibit making products that are appealing to minors. The law also requires that products must not be accessible to minors, and the manufacturing facility must not be located within 500 feet of churches, public libraries, schools, public parks, or public playgrounds.

The Ohio Department of Commerce regulates medical marijuana manufacturers. In Ohio, there are three types of manufacturers: standalone/ independent manufacturers, vertically integrated manufacturing establishments (merged with other licensees), and plant-only processors that distribute marijuana plants directly to marijuana dispensaries.

To apply for a processor license, applicants must submit:

• $10,000 non-refundable application fee

• A business plan consisting of the official name of the manufacturer applicant and the type of business organization

• An operational plan, including the policies to be implemented

• A financial plan showing the identity and ownership of all involved owners

• A quality assurance plan that establishes procedures and policies for the safe and consistent supply of medical marijuana

• A security plan that includes security policies and procedures

• Any other information deemed necessary by the Ohio Department of Commerce

Is Cannabis Retail Legal in Lucas County?

Yes, the retail sale of medical marijuana is legal in Lucas County, but only patients with legal medical referrals or registered caregivers are permitted access to medical marijuana dispensaries.

The Ohio Administrative Code stipulates that only dispensing facilities that have applied for a valid operating certificate from the Ohio Board of Pharmacy may engage in the retail business of medical marijuana. Marijuana plant materials sold in Ohio must have a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of 35% or less and marijuana extracts must have tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of 70% or less. The following forms of medical marijuana are available in Ohio: tinctures, oil, edibles, plant materials, and patches.

In addition, the vaporization of medical marijuana is permitted, but smoking medical marijuana is prohibited, pursuant to House Bill 523. It is important to note that the Ohio Board of Pharmacy may approve additional and new methods for the medical use of marijuana.

Ohio medical marijuana dispensaries are allowed to sell or dispense medical marijuana between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. These dispensaries are subject to random inspection and testing by the Ohio Pharmacy Commission. Storage areas must be maintained under lighting conditions and temperatures that ensure the integrity of medical marijuana prior to use. All areas where medical marijuana is stored must be clean, dry, well-lit, well-ventilated, and tidy. Medical marijuana dispensaries are prohibited from dispensing marijuana to locations outside of Ohio.

Is Cannabis Delivery Legal in Lucas County?

No. Lucas County does not allow medical marijuana delivery for patients, even those with medical marijuana ID cards. However, marijuana deliveries among medical marijuana businesses are allowed: from growers to processors and from processors to retail facilities.

According to Ohio Administrative Code, medical marijuana facilities must ensure that the areas where deliveries are made are safe and secure. Additionally, the delivery location must be monitored with video surveillance. Only staff of licensed cultivators, retailers, and manufacturers have access to these areas.

How to Get Medical Marijuana Card in Lucas County

To get a medical marijuana card in Ohio, you must:

• Be a resident of Ohio

• Get screened by a certified physician through the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program

• Have an eligible medical condition, including:

• AIDS

• Alzheimer's disease

• Parkinson's disease

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

• Cancer

• Epilepsy or another seizure disorder

• Sickle cell anemia

• Crohn's disease

• Spinal cord disease or injury

• Multiple sclerosis

• Post-traumatic stress disorder

• Fibromyalgia

• Tourette's syndrome

• Glaucoma

• Ulcerative colitis

• Hepatitis C

• Traumatic brain injury

• Inflammatory bowel disease

• Pain that is either intractable or chronic and severe

• Positive status for HIV

• Chronic traumatic encephalopathy

To apply for a medical marijuana card under the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program, you must:

1. Visit a licensed physician who can approve and verify that you have one of the eligible medical conditions and have that doctor create a profile of you on the Patient and Caregiver Registry

2. Complete enrollment in Patient and Caregiver Registry

3. Get medical marijuana from a licensed dispensing facility with a permit to operate from the Ohio Board of Pharmacy

For minor applicants, they must have parental or legal guardian consent, have valid identification cards, and have their parent or legal guardian apply to be a designated caregiver. The amount of medical marijuana allowed for a patient or caregiver is a 90-day supply.

To know more about medical marijuana cards in Ohio, kindly contact:

Ohio Department of Health

246 N High St, Columbus, OH

United States, Ohio

(614) 466-3543

Or

Ohio Medical Marijuana Program

77 South High Street, 17th Floor, Columbus, OH

43215, United States, Ohio

1-833-464-6627

Email: MMCPRegistry@pharmacy.ohio.gov

How Has Cannabis Legalization Impacted the Economy of Lucas County?

Ohio has a 5.75% sales tax on medical marijuana. The Ohio Department of Commerce released historical sales data showing a dramatic increase in medical marijuana sales since the state opened its first dispensary in 2019. According to April 2019 data, product sales were $5.2 million, which increased to a staggering $954 million in August 2022. The numbers show medical marijuana sales boost the state's economy from 2019 to 2022.

While recreational marijuana remains illegal in Ohio, a study from The University of Akron School of Economics published about legalizing recreational marijuana in the state would have yielded net positive social benefits amounting to over $444 million. The study also shows that legalizing recreational marijuana would result in more benefits from tax revenue and job opportunities.

The Effects of Cannabis Legalization on Crime Rates in Lucas County

In 2010, Lucas County conducted a youth survey that included more than 23,000 students from grades 5 to 12. The report describes that 11.4% of the youth group reported being unaware of the level of harm associated with marijuana use. 82% of the students also said they disliked the use of marijuana by friends and classmates. The same survey also said that the onset of marijuana use in 2010 peaked between ages 13 and 14. This information can guide and empower the law enforcement agencies in Lucas County.

Moreover, data gathered from the Lucas County Sheriff's Office in the FBI crime report showed an increase in DUI cases from 2015, 2016, to 2017— from 10 to 26 and 39 arrests, respectively. Whereas marijuana arrests in Lucas County varied in 2015, 2016, and 2017— from 0 arrests to 4 and 2, respectively. Note that the legalization of medical marijuana took place in Ohio in 2016.