Ohio is set to increase the legal daily purchase limit of cannabis for adults from one ounce to 2.5 ounces, effective June 4, 2024. This decision follows a determination by state officials that the cannabis market can adequately supply both medical patients and adult consumers.
In a recent announcement, the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control (DCC) emphasized its commitment to ensuring that medical marijuana patients have sufficient access to their medicine. Since the commencement of non-medical cannabis sales in August 2024, the market has shown its capacity to support both demographics.
Under the new regulations, adults will be able to purchase 2.5 ounces of dried cannabis flower per day, aligning with the state’s possession limit. However, only dried cannabis plant material will count toward this limit. Other cannabis products will still fall under a separate cap of 15,000 milligrams of total THC content for non-medical consumers.
Dispensaries can choose to implement the new purchase limits, but they are not required to do so. They must ensure they maintain adequate inventory for both medical and non-medical consumers. The purchase limit for medical patients will remain unchanged, allowing them to buy up to a 90-day supply of cannabis as needed.
If a dispensary opts to increase its daily limit for adult consumers, it must first submit a “Change of Operation” request to the DCC. Additionally, recent revisions to the rules have eliminated the requirement for dispensaries to track adult-use cannabis purchases as whole day units, although they must continue to do so for medical marijuana transactions.
This regulatory change comes amid ongoing debates in the Ohio legislature regarding proposed modifications to the state’s cannabis legalization law. Recent bills have sparked controversy, with advocates expressing concern that these changes could undermine voter intent.
Among the proposed measures is a cap on THC content in cannabis products at 70 percent and restrictions on new forms of adult-use cannabis. Additionally, legislation aims to limit the number of active dispensaries statewide to 350 and alter the allocation of cannabis tax revenue, potentially redirecting funds away from local governments.
Public opposition to these proposed changes has been noted, particularly in a survey of 38 municipalities revealing widespread discontent with alterations to tax revenue distribution. A separate Senate bill also proposes reducing the home cultivation limit from 12 plants to 6.
Governor Mike DeWine has indicated a desire to redirect cannabis tax revenue to support law enforcement and public services, emphasizing police training as a priority, despite it not being part of the original legalization framework established by voters in 2023.
As Ohio moves forward with these regulatory updates, the DCC remains focused on balancing the needs of medical patients with the expanding adult-use market, ensuring that both groups can access the cannabis products they require.
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