CINCINNATI (WKRC) – Joints could be rolling onto store shelves in Ohio, but not necessarily anytime real soon.
Selling them is part of a package of rule changes submitted by the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control. First, the lieutenant governor needs to sign off on the changes. Then, a group of state legislators has to weigh in.
There’s no deadline for them, but the people who sell marijuana and use it want to see the changes happen. Ohio cultivators and dispensaries are anticipating selling what they refer to as pre-rolled recreational cannabis. Caveh Azadeh said that it’ll give the state an edge against Michigan, where it’s already approved.
“It’s going to be a huge impact in the overall industry. In the state of Ohio, in a normal market, in any state that’s recreational, about 16% of the market share is pre-rolls,” said King City Gardens co-founder Caveh Azadeh.
If approved, people will be able to purchase raw and infused joints. Both include the plant and paper, but infused rolls have flavoring added.
“I think to have something already premade for you, there’s a lot of appeal to that,” Azadeh said.
The Ohio Division of Cannabis Control said that its proposed rules are based on other states’ regulations and public feedback. Beyond Hello in Batavia said that it’ll be an uphill political battle getting the rules approved.
“If you want to go out to the marketplace and get a pre-roll in Ohio, you can already do [that] so [right now], it’s just not regulated, it’s just not age-gated, it’s just not third-party validated and tested,” said Jushi Holdings Chief Strategy Director Trent Woloveck.
He agrees with Azadeh that the rules will encourage people to buy in-state rather than go up north. Woloveck also thinks the new product would drive down cannabis costs.
“As we continue to grow in Ohio as a marketplace, maturing as an adult-use marketplace, we just need to continue to be able to compete,” Woloveck said.
King City Gardens already has a licensed processor lined up so it can send its product to be made into rolls.
“We were hoping to get it in the first rollout back in August-September, but now it looks like the rule package has been submitted, and hopefully by the end of January, this could be live for the state of Ohio,” Azadeh said.
The other part of the package is changing the guidelines for advertising. It would be banned on TV, radio, and billboards in order to limit cannabis exposure to anyone under 18. Opponents said that the advertising rules are too strict. They argue cannabis should be marketed under similar guidelines as pharmaceutical drugs and alcohol.
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