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

Is Cannabis Cultivation Legal in Stark County?

Yes. Cannabis cultivation of medical marijuana is allowed in Stark County, as long as the entity was provided a certificate of operation by the Ohio Department of Commerce. Cannabis cultivators grow, harvest, package, and transport medical marijuana to cannabis processors and dispensaries, which the latter sells to patients.

The cultivator must impose rules and regulations regarding the maintenance and cleanliness of the facilities to ensure that cannabis products are free from contaminants. It is also required that cultivators use chemicals, sanitizing agents, and other cleaning solutions that are safe and approved to be used with medicinal plants, vegetables, and fruits.

Ohio laws prohibit the growing of cannabis outdoors for personal consumption. On the other hand, licensed commercial cultivators are not expressly prohibited from growing marijuana outdoors. Provided, however, they designate a cultivation area in their facilities, which should be separate and have restricted access from other regions with different functions.

Any person, not authorized as a cannabis cultivator, who grows less than 100 grams of marijuana is guilty of a misdemeanor offense and liable to pay up to $150 in fines.

Is Cannabis Manufacturing Legal in Stark County?

Yes. Processors are the entities authorized to manufacture medical marijuana products. A certificate of operation awarded to a provisional processor licensee allows the business to manufacture or convert harvested marijuana plants into marijuana extract as an ingredient in medical marijuana products.

One of the requirements to obtain a processor license is to have experience with manufacturing medical marijuana, and agricultural and horticultural products. A processor shall lay down their operations plan to establish that their policies and procedures are safe, proper, secure, and sustainable in processing medical marijuana. A quality assurance plan is also mandatory, which details extraction techniques, packaging and labeling practices, and inventory control system to ensure the cannabis products possess medicinal integrity to meet the expected shelf-life.

The processor facility must be at least 500 feet from the boundaries of a parcel of land considered a prohibited area or a public space.

Is Cannabis Retail Legal in Stark County?

Yes. Dispensaries are licensed entities that sell medical marijuana only to qualifying patients and caregivers. Therefore, the purchase and sale of recreational marijuana in Stark County are illegal. Every dispensary employee must be licensed to work in a pharmacy that dispenses medical marijuana.

Only qualified patients and caregivers may purchase medical marijuana upon valid prescription by a physician. Patients who are under 18 years old are not allowed to buy on their own. The registry identification card and a government-issued ID shall be presented to enter the dispensary department.

Registered patients and caregivers can possess an amount of medical marijuana not exceeding the 90-day supply. A patient can buy a dosage of medical marijuana up to a 45-day supply, or up to a 46-day supply for the first fill period upon a new recommendation. Similarly, caregivers can purchase the same amount, provided they shall buy no more than the dosage prescribed for each patient.

Edible medical marijuana is a product that contains marijuana or its extract, is orally administered intended for human consumption, and is in the form of food. Other forms of authorized medical marijuana come as capsules, tinctures, and oils for oral administration, while lotions, creams, and ointments are for topical administration. Vaporization (or vaping) is also allowed as cannabis administration but is subject to certain forms and device limitations. Any form of medical marijuana that is attractive to children is prohibited.

Is Cannabis Delivery Legal in Stark County?

No. Enacted by the Ohio Legislature, House Bill 523 (which authorizes the use of marijuana for medical purposes) does not mention delivery services for medical marijuana products. Registered patients are required to purchase the products from licensed dispensaries in person. Apart from this mode, only caregivers may deliver medical marijuana to their registered patients.

How to Get Medical Marijuana Card in Stark County

A patient must be placed on the Patient and Caregiver Registry established by the State Board of Pharmacy to purchase medical marijuana products. A prospective patient must have the following qualifications:

• Established and maintained a bona fide physician-patient relationship; the certified physician shall submit the completed patient registration

• Received a confirmation or diagnosis of a qualifying condition from the physician

• Consented to treatment using medical marijuana. For minors or incompetents with court-appointed legal guardians, their parent or legal representatives shall have consented to the treatment

• Paid the required fee to the State Board of Pharmacy

• Is an Ohio resident unless otherwise provided by law

If the patient is diagnosed with a terminal illness, he or she must include an attestation specifying such a fact in the registration submission.

When purchasing medical marijuana, dispensary employees require patients and caregivers to present their medical marijuana registry cards. Buyers are reminded to bring their registry IDs whenever they are carrying medical marijuana. In no case shall a patient or caregiver be in possession of more than a 90-day supply of medical cannabis.

Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program

Toll-Free Helpline at 1-833-4OH-MMCP (1-833-464-6627).

For other concerns, send a message through the MMCP Contact Form.

How Has Cannabis Legalization Impacted the Economy of Stark County?

Since 2019, when licensed dispensaries opened their doors to consumers, the Medical Marijuana Control Program in Ohio has generated over a billion dollars. Starting in April 2019, total product sales reached around $5.2 million; by October 2022, the program garnered $1.03 billion by selling over 11.2 million units of manufactured marijuana products.

The purchase of medical marijuana in Stark County is subject to a 5.75% sales tax. No additional excise tax is applied to it. Once the number of registered patients increases, the revenue in the form of taxes shall also increase proportionately.

The Effects of Cannabis Legalization on Crime Rates in Stark County

In 2016, the state senate approved House Bill 523, legalizing the use of medical marijuana. It was only in 2019 that medical marijuana dispensaries started selling cannabis products to patients and caregivers.

According to the FBI Crime Data Explorer, there was a decrease in arrests regarding marijuana possession, sale, and manufacturing of marijuana following the legalization of medical marijuana. From 2018 to 2019, there was a nearly 27% decrease in the number of arrests for marijuana possession (from more than 18,000 to 13,500). On the other hand, arrests for the illegal sale and manufacturing of marijuana in the same period had a 46% decrease from nearly 800 arrests to only 400 arrests.

In 2020 and 2021, marijuana possession arrests went down by nearly 59% and 52%, respectively, compared to when dispensaries sold cannabis to the public. By the same period, the illegal sale of marijuana decreased by 46% in the number of arrests made by the FBI. On the other hand, arrests for unlawful manufacturing of marijuana had a 44% decrease.