
Yes. There are recreational marijuana dispensaries in the City of Akron. These were licensed following the legalization of adult-use cannabis in Ohio. The recreational cannabis dispensaries currently in Akron have Dual-Use dispensary licenses, which means they sell both adult-use and medical cannabis products.
Yes. According to Article 38 of the Akron Municipal Code, medical marijuana dispensaries are permitted to operate in the city in compliance with HB523. HB523 legalized medical marijuana for qualified persons in Ohio. Akron residents may purchase medical cannabis in tinctures, creams, oils, topicals, vape, capsules, lotions, edibles, patches, and flower forms.
You can order medical and recreational marijuana online in the City of Akron. However, when you order cannabis from online weed dispensaries in the city, you may only pick up your order by visiting the dispensaries.
Persons entering dispensaries in Akron to buy medical cannabis products will be required to show their registry IDs, which can be displayed on their phones or printed out, as well as state-issued driver's licenses or other valid photo IDs. This requirement also applies to minors who are patients. Patients or caregivers will be buzzed into a waiting room once their IDs have been verified. Next, patients must complete questionnaires regarding their medical conditions, symptoms, treatment goals, and cannabis experiences.
A dispensary employee, typically called a patient care specialist or patient care coordinator, will accompany the patient or caregiver into the dispensing floor. Patients at some dispensaries may be permitted to have one companion in the waiting room, but the guest is not allowed to enter the dispensing area.
The employee will analyze the patients' information and needs before assisting them in selecting appropriate products. Patient care specialists usually have useful experience and knowledge about different strains of marijuana and what types of cannabis will work best for specific patients and ailments. They are prepared to assist even first-time visitors in understanding their treatment options. Ohio medical marijuana law does not permit smoking, but it does permit vaporization. Therefore, you can find a variety of vaporizers at Akron dispensaries.
Anyone buying recreational marijuana would have to present their government-issued ID when entering a weed dispensary in Akron. This is to confirm that they are 21 or older and, therefore eligible to buy adult-use cannabis.
After purchase, another employee of the dispensary will inspect the products purchased. The amounts will be documented in the Ohio automated reporting system, which keeps track of all prescribed controlled substances. According to state regulations, marijuana must be packaged in opaque bags and cannot be consumed in dispensaries or public places.
Ohio legalized recreational marijuana when voters approved Issue 2 at the November 2023 polls. Legal sales of recreational cannabis began in the state on August 6, 2024. While the state’s recreational marijuana law allows for the establishment of adult-use cannabis-only stores, the first approved dispensaries to sell recreational cannabis were ones already licensed to sell medical marijuana.
By law, before letting clients access purchasing areas, dispensaries must check their IDs and/or Ohio medicinal cannabis program registrations. No Akron cannabis establishment may sell a customer more cannabis than is permitted by law. A marijuana facility in Akron may not be located within 500 feet of any K-12 school, public playground, public library, church, pre-school, child daycare center, or a traditional residential zone.
The passage of Ohio recreational marijuana law makes cannabis use and possession legal for adults aged 21 or older in Akron. These eligible adults can possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis or 0.5 ounces of cannabis concentrate. In addition, an adult may grow up to six cannabis plants for personal use, but a household with multiple adults can only grow a maximum of 12 cannabis plants at home. The legal sale of adult-use cannabis in licensed dispensaries in Akron is subject to a 10% sales tax charged at the point of purchase.
In 2016, Ohio lawmakers passed HB523, which legalized the use of medical marijuana in Akron and other Ohio cities. Medical marijuana was initially only available to people suffering from a limited number of diseases. However, the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control (DCC) established by HB 523 has grown over time, with more medical ailments now being treated with medical marijuana.
In order to purchase medicinal marijuana in Akron, you must first register with the DCC. Persons under 18 who wish to participate in the program must designate caregivers to assist with purchasing and administering medical marijuana. Residents of Akron who have enrolled in the DCC may buy and possess up to 90 days' worth of medical marijuana. To determine what constitutes a 90-day supply under the DCC, visit the program's website to use the DCC’s 90-day supply calculator tool. Note that home growing of cannabis and public use of medical marijuana are prohibited in Akron.
To obtain a medical marijuana card in Akron, you must get an attestation certifying that you have one of the approved health conditions for which medical marijuana use is permitted in Ohio. The qualifying medical conditions are:
The DCC requires that the attestation must be issued by a healthcare professional with whom you have a doctor-patient relationship. The issuing healthcare professional must be an Ohio-licensed physician with a valid Ohio Medical Board Certificate to Recommend (CTR). On the Ohio Medical Board website, you can find a list of licensed physicians with valid CTRs. If your physician is not authorized to issue medical cannabis certifications, you can use the DCC list to find an approved one.
CTR physicians have access to the Ohio patient registry, allowing them to enroll patients in the Ohio patient registry. Before enrolling you in the registry, your physician will ask you to provide a valid government-issued ID, such as an Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicle ID card, an Ohio driver's license, or a United States Passport.
Once your CTR-licensed physician uploads your medical cannabis recommendation to the registry, you will get an email with instructions on accessing your registry profile. Following that, you can finish the application by paying the $50 application cost on your profile page. You may qualify for a discount on your application if you qualify for low-income or veteran status.
In Akron, marijuana can be consumed in the private residence or the consumer without fear of prosecution or sanctions. Public use of cannabis is prohibited.
To buy marijuana in the city, you must visit a dispensary or buy it online. A quick Internet search using the phrase "marijuana dispensaries near me" can reveal the locations of marijuana dispensaries in the City of Akron. When visiting Akron marijuana dispensaries, you must bring cash, a valid ID, and/or an Ohio medical marijuana identification card.
The average price for one gram of high-quality weed in Akron is $310.
Some of the most popular strains in Akron are:
No. In Akron, it is unlawful to smoke cannabis in public locations such as bars, schools, dispensaries, parks, sidewalks, and roadways. According to Section 3796.06(B) of the Ohio Revised Code, smoking cannabis is generally prohibited in Ohio.
An Akron medical marijuana patient with a valid medical cannabis card can purchase medical cannabis subject to the following limits in one day:
A patient and the patient's caregivers are limited to no more than a 90-day supply in accordance with the two 45-day fill period process outlined in Rule 3796:7-2-04 of the Ohio Administrative Code.
According to Ohio recreational cannabis law, Akron residents, who are adults aged 21 or older, may possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis or up to 15 grams of concentrate.
No. Even if you have ordered weed from legal retailers in states where marijuana is legal, it becomes illegal once shipped to Akron. That is because crossing state boundaries with marijuana is a federal offense punishable with harsh penalties.
Yes. However, while residents may purchase weed online, from the websites of local dispensaries, the delivery of cannabis products to buyers’ doorsteps is not permitted. Online weed orders must be picked up at the physical premises of the licensed retailers selling them.
No. Dispensaries typically close before midnight. To find the exact operation hours for marijuana dispensaries in the city, check their websites or call them to ask.
Yes. Tourists can visit dispensaries in the city to buy recreational cannabis as long as they are 21 years or older.
Any person entering a dispensary in Akron must present their government-issued ID. Such persons must also provide their photo IDs or Ohio-issued driver's licenses. If buying medical cannabis, they will also be required to provide a medical marijuana registry ID.
The Botanist, Bloom Medicinals, and Culture Cannabis Club are the leading cannabis dispensaries in the City of Akron.
Medical marijuana dispensaries in Akron are required to sell medical cannabis only to authorized persons. Hence, dispensaries in Akron scan the IDs of their customers to verify that sales are made to approved persons.
There are currently three licensed cannabis dispensaries in Akron.
Akron cannabis dispensaries do not accept credit cards. Transactions are usually completed using cash or debit cards.
You may visit more than one cannabis dispensary in one day in Akron. However, you will not be able to buy more than the maximum amount of cannabis you can possess under Ohio law.
No. Cannabis dispensaries in Akron do not take health insurance.
Yes. Akron marijuana dispensaries are required by state law to keep track of marijuana sales on their premises.
You must be 18 or older to enter an Akron cannabis dispensary. If you are under 18, your designated caregiver will be required to help purchase medical marijuana.
The Division of Cannabis Control is responsible for regulating cannabis dispensary operations in the City of Akron. This agency is under the state’s Department of Commerce located at:
77 S High Street
20th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (833) 464-6627
Email: DCC@com.ohio.gov
To report illegal cannabis activities in Akron, contact the Akron Police Department or the Division of Cannabis Control of the Ohio Department of Commerce.