Ohio's Medical Marijuana Prices Expected To Drop As More Dispensaries Open

Marijuana Dispensary — In light of the recent legalization and destigmatization, marijuana can be found almost everywhere. Dispensaries in states where the plant is legal offer users an easy way to get it. Getty Images/Ethan Miller

The price of medical marijuana in Ohio is set to drop significantly over the next months as more new dispensaries open to meet the growing demand. As of this writing, the price is reportedly at $453 per ounce.

The first 14 days after the Ohio government approved the use of cannabis for medical purposes was expectedly met with high prices due to low supply, according to the Dayton Daily News. This is because there is a lack of testing labs, growers and processors in the area and in the nearby towns.

All this is set to change as more facilities are poised to open starting March, particularly in the Butler, Greene, Warren, Montgomery and Clark counties, as well as in Dayton and Springfield. To date, Ohio residents have spent some $333,592 on roughly 46 pounds worth of cannabis since it was legalized. However, since there is a lack of supply locally, most of the spending was made in neighboring towns.

Purchasing marijuana for medical use may be already legal in Ohio, but it’s still not easy to acquire. First, patients should seek a prescription from a doctor who has been certified to recommend it. Next, the physician will then assess the patient if he or she falls under the 21 conditions qualified for marijuana use. According to the State Medical Board of Ohio, there are 375 doctors who have this certification, although its roster only lists their place of residence and not where they actually practice. There reportedly are 3,500 Ohio residents who are medically qualified to avail this type of treatment.

Doctors are only able to recommend medical cannabis' use for a maximum of 90 days and three refills within this period. Cannabis is still classified as a schedule 1 drug in Ohio, which means it is seen as addictive and requires close monitoring and regulation.

According to Price of Weed, the current going rate for high-quality cannabis in Ohio is $330.77 per ounce, while medium quality weed is at $234.84 per ounce. The priciest per ounce price in the area is at Lorain and Hudson ($260 per ounce), while the cheapest can be purchased at Columbus and Akron ($10 per ounce).