CINCINNATI (WXIX) – Recreational marijuana sales in Ohio are soaring after it became legal last week, but it’s causing problems for medical marijuana patients who say they’re now getting priced out.
Marijuana for medical use has been legal in Ohio since 2016. But the sudden influx of buyers for recreational marijuana has caused a jolt to the market. Many patients are afraid if the trend continues they won’t be able to buy medical marijuana for treatment.
One patient, who declined to be identified, said he’s used medical marijuana in Ohio for years and he doesn’t understand why the prices have skyrocketed. He suffered a brain injury after a car accident when he was a kid. Medical marijuana was one way he sought treatment.
“It wouldn’t be no more than $80 for half an ounce,” he said. “It’s now $130. That $80 wasn’t on sale. That was the regular price.”
Medical marijuana users get a lower tax rate than recreational users. But it’s more expensive than it was just a few months ago, which is causing him problems with treatment.
“I was paying half that before,” he said. “The street market is still booming. The black market is still going to do well, especially with the way prices are.”
He said he reached out to dispensaries. They blame supply and demand on the rising cost of medical pot. He said he knows of some people who have gone to Michigan.
“Because you can go up there and get twice as much for what you pay here,” he said. “Even when it was a good price.”
Because marijuana is still a Schedule 1 drug according to the Food and Drug Administration, it’s still illegal on the federal level and can’t be transported across state lines. But he says he’s just trying to manage costs.
“You have people that like the quality of the stuff and want to go there to get that product,” he said .”But we’re not going to go there and pay double the price for what we were just paying for.”
Industry experts who spoke to FOX19 NOW said their number one priority is making sure there is a supply for medical marijuana patients. They say all supply decisions are made by determining their medical supply. They also reiterated that transporting cannabis across state lines is illegal.
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Marijuana for medical use has been legal in Ohio since 2016. But the sudden influx of buyers for recreational marijuana has caused a jolt to the market. Read More