YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Since the launch of adult-use recreational cannabis sales in Ohio in August 2024, local dispensaries and cultivators report a notable increase in business, although not as robust as initially expected. Terrell Washington, the owner of Leaf Relief, a cannabis dispensary in Youngstown, stated, “We’ve definitely seen a growth from the number of customers on a daily basis. We’re looking at record numbers from every single metric we can think of over the past year.”
According to data from the Ohio Department of Cannabis Control, nonmedical marijuana sales reached $539.9 million during the first nine months of recreational sales. This accounts for approximately 25% of the $2.7 billion in total sales since the start of medical sales in January 2019. However, the current recreational sales figures fall short of industry executives’ earlier predictions.
Washington highlighted that the initial ballot initiative approved by voters in November 2023 has not yet been fully implemented. Ongoing debates in the state legislature over cannabis reform bills have raised concerns among industry supporters about possible limitations on the program. “There’s clearly still opportunities,” Washington noted, adding that essential components, such as a social equity program, have yet to be established.
One key area of demand is pre-rolled cannabis products, which Washington emphasized are crucial for the adult-use market. Despite their popularity, regulatory delays have hindered their production in Ohio. “It’s impossible to have an adult-use market without pre-rolls – but we still aren’t approved to produce them yet,” he explained.
Despite these challenges, Leaf Relief plans to open a second location on Silica Road in Austintown by the end of the year, indicating strong business performance. Ohio has issued 147 dual-use operation certificates to dispensaries, with seven granted in Mahoning, Trumbull, and Columbiana counties, which includes two in Warren and one each in Hubbard, Youngstown, Niles, Struthers, and East Liverpool.
Sales of recreational cannabis continue to rise. For instance, sales of plant materials reached $6.07 million for the week ending August 10, 2024, growing to a record $8.46 million by April 19, 2025. Recreational sales are also significantly outpacing medical cannabis sales; during the week ending April 25, 2025, recreational plant sales hit $7.28 million compared to just $2.32 million in medical sales, representing about 70% of total cannabis plant sales that week.
Riviera Creek LLC, a cannabis cultivator in Youngstown, is also expanding its operations. Chairman Brian Kessler announced plans to launch a tenth grow room by summer 2025, with additional rooms to follow depending on demand. The company recently completed a kitchen that will begin producing cannabis gummies this week and has entered the apparel market as well. Riviera Creek is the only cannabis cultivator in Youngstown and employs around 100 staff.
Kessler emphasizes the importance of regulation, stating that all cannabis products must undergo testing and approval before reaching consumers. He expressed concern over the sale of unregulated hemp products at convenience stores, warning that these products pose risks due to the lack of testing. “The good news is that the state has been trying to get that stuff off the market, and we’re 100% supportive of getting it regulated,” he said.
Despite the industry’s growth, Kessler pointed out ongoing regulatory challenges, including a recent bill that reduces tax revenue sharing with communities that host cannabis dispensaries. He also mentioned proposals to lower the amount of THC in cannabis products, which he believes could lead to the use of unhealthy fillers.
Kessler acknowledges that while the industry faces hurdles, he remains optimistic that the provisions promised in the original ballot initiatives will eventually be realized. “I think we’ll see that growth; it’s just going to take longer. What people hoped would happen in a year or two probably is going to take three years, maybe four years,” he stated.
The landscape for Ohio’s cannabis industry is evolving, with dispensaries and cultivators adapting to regulatory challenges while striving to meet consumer demand.
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