Ohio Grants First Recreational Marijuana Licenses

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Division of Cannabis Control has given 10 marijuana growers and processers certificates of operation – including two in Akron and one each in Lorain and Portage counties – which permits them to begin working in the recreational market.

These are the first certificates of operation for recreational marijuana for adults aged 21 and older. The state began accepting applications for medical marijuana businesses to convert their licenses to become dual use, serving both medical and recreational customers, on June 7.

The businesses that were approved are all marijuana cultivators and processors, which extract oils from marijuana plants to create gummies, vape cartridges and other products. So far, though, the state still has not granted permits for dispensaries to begin recreational sales.

The voter-approved recreational marijuana law gives the state until Sept. 7 to accept or reject applications for dual-use licenses. State regulators said they plan to approve growers and processors before dispensaries, to ensure there’s enough product supply.

The following businesses received their certificates of operation, as of Friday:

-Pure Ohio Wellness LLC: Large-scale cultivator, in Springfield in Clark County

-Pure Ohio Wellness LLC: Processor in same building as the grow facility in Springfield in Clark County

- GTI Ohio LLC, known as Green Thumb Industries: Large-scale cultivator, in Toledo

-GTI Ohio LLC, known as Green Thumb Industries: Processor in the same building as the grow facility in Toledo

-Farkas Farms LLC: Smaller-scale cultivator in Grafton in Lorain County

- AT-CPC of Ohio LLC, owned by Klutch Cannabis: Large-scale cultivator in Akron

-AT-CPC of Ohio LLC, owned by Klutch Cannabis: Processor in same building as grow facility in Akron.

- Riviera Creek Holdings II LLC: Processor in Youngstown

-One Orijin LLC: Processor in Columbus

-FN Group Holdings LLC, known as Wellspring Fields: Processor in Ravenna in Portage County

The Ohio Division of Cannabis Control received 230 applications from medical marijuana businesses that want dual-use licenses. Most have received notification that their paperwork is in order, technically called a provisional license, but the division has to review it and test point-of-sale systems, security and other parts of the businesses to ensure they’re compliant with the law and regulations before giving them certificates of operation.