One year after the launch of recreational marijuana sales in Ohio, the cannabis industry has experienced a remarkable surge. With sales climbing into the hundreds of millions, the promise of economic benefits has certainly played out—at least on paper. However, not all Ohio communities are feeling the impact of those gains, particularly when it comes to the long-anticipated tax funds.
From the moment dispensaries opened their doors, excitement was high. Ernest Philippe, one of the first customers at Amplify Dispensary, described the atmosphere on opening day as electric. "Everyone was so happy. I had never seen anything like it in my life," he said.
That enthusiasm was quickly validated by the numbers. Within just five days, Ohio saw $11.5 million in recreational cannabis sales. By the end of 2024, that figure had ballooned to $242 million. Now, a full year later, the state has recorded a staggering $702 million in non-medical cannabis sales.
With this rapid growth, one would expect tax funds generated from cannabis sales to be making a visible difference in local communities. As of today, the state has collected over $122 million in cannabis-related tax revenue. These tax funds were supposed to be distributed back to municipalities through the Host Community Fund, a key selling point of Issue 2, the law that legalized recreational cannabis.
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