Ohioans have been waiting patiently for legal sales since voters passed Issue 2 in November 2023. The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol successfully brought Issue 2 to the ballot through a state-wide signature collection campaign. Voters ultimately passed the proposal with 57% in support of legalizing and regulating the cultivation, manufacturing, testing and sale of marijuana to Ohioans 21 and up.
Ohio's Division of Cannabis Control will issue the first set of dispensary non-medical licenses on Tuesday, James Crawford, spokesperson for the Division of Cannabis Control, told Ohio Capital Journal. Cincinnati dispensaries getting licensed for adult-use sales this time around include Sunnyside in Oakley and Verilife in Pleasant Ridge.
Both locations have already been operating as medical dispensaries, but CityBeat asked how they're preparing to accommodate the influx of new customers.
Both locations have already been operating as medical dispensaries, but CityBeat asked how they're preparing to accommodate the influx of new customers.
Jason Erkes, chief communications officer for Sunnyside Dispensaries, said the rush has already started.
"Our phones have been ringing off the hook," Erkes told CityBeat. "There's a lot of excitement and anticipation of this day, it's historic. People have been asking what time they can come, if they can camp out in the parking lot to be first in line. We're saying, 'Of course!' We want this day to be as exciting as we can."
Erkes said the Sunnyside Cincinnati staff has been preparing for this day for a while, and the dispensary on Kennedy Avenue will be able to move customers through the line quickly, especially existing medical patients.
"We'll have staff outside that will be working the line," he said. "If someone comes up and has a patient card, there will be a separate line for patients. The patient card is still the ultimate VIP card to get into the dispensary, and it always will be."
Other than having your state-issued ID showing you're at least 21 years old, Erkes suggests customers come prepared by reviewing Sunnyside's menu of options so you're ready to order and ask questions.
"We advise people to look at Sunnyside.shop before they come, just to see what products are available and get an idea of what consumption method they might want to purchase," he said. "But our staff will be able to walk them through that whole process, that whole journey to make sure they get the right product and right dose."
Melissa, who did not want to provide her last name to CityBeat, is a manager at Verilife Dispensary in Pleasant Ridge. She said Verilife staff are prepared to move lines quickly, but said mobile ordering may help some customers avoid long waits.
"There's probably going to be a line or some sort of line, but we're very quick here," she said. "We've trained a lot of people over the past five years to order online. We have an express service for online orders. I think definitely utilizing the online platforms that are available would be best for everybody."
Melissa said their medical patients will also be prioritized with special lines and registers just for medical transactions.
"Medical patients actually come in and get preferential treatment," she said.
Both Sunnyside and Verilife will have special hours for opening day of recreational sales, with doors opening at 7 a.m.
"Our phones have been ringing off the hook," Erkes told CityBeat. "There's a lot of excitement and anticipation of this day, it's historic. People have been asking what time they can come, if they can camp out in the parking lot to be first in line. We're saying, 'Of course!' We want this day to be as exciting as we can."
Erkes said the Sunnyside Cincinnati staff has been preparing for this day for a while, and the dispensary on Kennedy Avenue will be able to move customers through the line quickly, especially existing medical patients.
"We'll have staff outside that will be working the line," he said. "If someone comes up and has a patient card, there will be a separate line for patients. The patient card is still the ultimate VIP card to get into the dispensary, and it always will be."
Other than having your state-issued ID showing you're at least 21 years old, Erkes suggests customers come prepared by reviewing Sunnyside's menu of options so you're ready to order and ask questions.
"We advise people to look at Sunnyside.shop before they come, just to see what products are available and get an idea of what consumption method they might want to purchase," he said. "But our staff will be able to walk them through that whole process, that whole journey to make sure they get the right product and right dose."
Melissa, who did not want to provide her last name to CityBeat, is a manager at Verilife Dispensary in Pleasant Ridge. She said Verilife staff are prepared to move lines quickly, but said mobile ordering may help some customers avoid long waits.
"There's probably going to be a line or some sort of line, but we're very quick here," she said. "We've trained a lot of people over the past five years to order online. We have an express service for online orders. I think definitely utilizing the online platforms that are available would be best for everybody."
Melissa said their medical patients will also be prioritized with special lines and registers just for medical transactions.
"Medical patients actually come in and get preferential treatment," she said.
Both Sunnyside and Verilife will have special hours for opening day of recreational sales, with doors opening at 7 a.m.
