GOP Congressman In Ohio Says Retail Weed Sales To Begin ‘Before July 4th Weekend,’ Collective Joy Ensues
State regulators in Ohio are moving closer to approving the first round of recreational marijuana dispensaries within days of receiving applications, allowing businesses to open their doors in early to mid-June, said state Rep. Jamie Callender (R).
“We could have retailers — recreational licensed retailers — in Ohio by mid-June,” Callender told News 5 Cleveland. “We should begin to see legal recreational sales of marijuana in Ohio certainly before July 4th weekend.”
Regulators have until September to start issuing cannabis business licenses under the ballot initiative that was approved last November.
After much stalling and haggling among lawmakers, the Division of Cannabis Control (DCC) seems to have arrived at a plan to begin granting dual licenses to the existing nearly 130 licensed medical marijuana dispensaries to move into recreational cannabis sales.
“The dual-use application is going to be very simple because all the tougher parts were done when they got their medical licenses,” said Callender, a longtime proponent legal of cannabis. “They already have a …