Tale of Two States: Pennsylvania, Ohio Medical Marijuana Programs Moving at Different Pace
By Omar Sacirbey
Pennsylvania and Ohio legalized medical marijuana within weeks of one another over the spring, but their programs are advancing at different speeds.
Officials in Pennsylvania unveiled wide-ranging draft regulationslast week governing the states new MMJ program, while neighboring Ohio is still a long way from that milestone.
Ohios government leaders must still establish an advisory board that will help pen regulations, and final rules for all licensed cannabis businesses might not materialize until early September of 2017.
Medical marijuana entrepreneurs in the state will remain in limbo until that point, while their peers in Pennsylvania already have a good look at how the regulatory landscape might develop.
Still, Ohio government leaders and regulators while proceeding more slowly dont appear to be dragging their feet. They face a different legal timetable and want to avoid a rush job.
State Rep. John Boccieri just this week told a local TV station that officials with the Ohio Department of Commerce are trying to figure out how they ethically and legally can administer this through dispensaries.
Moreover, industry officials who keep tabs on Ohio see encouraging signs for what is likely to become one of the nations largest MMJ programs.
From conversations that Ive had, it would appear that theres a lot of legwork going into implementing this thing as quickly as possible, said Andy Joseph, president of Apeks Supercritical, an extraction machine manufacturer in Johnstown, Ohio.
Release of Funds
Indeed, earlier this month, a bipartisan Ohio budget panelagreed unanimously to releasesome $1.8 million to state regulators to hire and train employees for the program.
There are already job postings, Joseph said of the new regulatory positions. That suggests a willingness to move forward. It shows progress and willingness to embrace the law in front of them.
Tom Haren, an attorney helping businesses prepare to enter the states MMJ industry, noted that cultivation regulations including how many licenses will be awarded must be finalized by May 2017 under the states MMJ law. Rules for dispensaries and other businesses, including the amount of licenses that will be awarded, need to be finalized by September 2017.
All things considered I think thats a pretty good time frame, Haren said.
Governor Supportive
Haren also pointed to Gov. John Kasich. The states Republican chief executive has recently made public statements in support of medical cannabis, suggesting his administration wont get in the way of the new law.
Hes shown hell cross the aisle on issues that are not Republican priorities, Haren said. He could have easily said Im not going to sign this, but he signed it.
Kasich signed Ohios MMJ program into law on June 8, less than two months after Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf did so for his state.
Ohios law officially takes effect Sept. 8. By early October, Kasich and government leaders must select a 14-member advisory committee that will help write the regulations.
Ohios medical cannabis industry could eventually generate between $200 million and $400 million in annual retail sales via dispensaries once the market matures, according to preliminary estimates by
The state has an extensive qualifying conditions list, including chronic, severe and intractable pain. In other states that allow patients to obtain marijuana for pain, typically anywhere from 1%-2% of the population signs up for the medical cannabis program.
Pennsylvania Regulators Act
Pennsylvania, meanwhile, clearly is on a different schedule.
Stateregulators there drew industry kudos last week for quickly issuing detailed draft regulations for the states MMJ program.
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