The state of Ohio will be allowing medical marijuana growers to expand in order to meet demand and prepare for more dispensaries.
Cultivators in the state can now request permission to expand their grow space.
Expansion requests will be granted to businesses that have thus far complied with rules and regulations and are already using the maximum amount of space allowed by the state. They must also demonstrate a need to expand to keep up with demand according to the Ohio Department of Commerce.
The department made their announcement on Wednesday. The expansion process comes as the state plans for more dispensaries. In fact, Ohio is planning to more than double the amount of dispensaries in the state.
“This decision comes after review of multiple program metrics, including patient program participation and the Board of Pharmacy’s impending request for new dispensary license applications,” said Commerce Department spokeswoman Jennifer Jarrell in an e-mail to Cincinnati.com.
She added, “The timing allows eligible cultivators ample opportunity to expand their cultivation capacity and production before the additional dispensaries become operational.”
As of July 31st, there were roughly 125,000 active registered medical marijuana patients in the state. The state’s initial business license caps were based on a patient population of around 24,000 patients.
