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Ohio Gives License to Large-Scale Medical Marijuana Cultivator

photo of marijuana
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The state previously issued licenses for two smaller medical marijuana cultivators.

The state has issued the first license for a large-scale medical marijuana cultivator under Ohio’s medical marijuana program.

Ohio Department of Commerce spokeswoman Stephanie Gostomski said Buckeye Relief has passed its inspection and has been issued a certificate of operation, the first issued to a large-scale cultivator, which is allowed to grow up to 25,000 square feet of medical marijuana. 

The state has already issued certificates of operation to two smaller cultivators, who are allowed to produce up to 3,000 square feet of marijuana.

Ohio’s medical marijuana program was supposed to be fully operational by September 8, but in recent weeks it became clear the program was not going to be able to meet that deadline. The hope now is the medical marijuana program will be up and running by the end of the year.

Jo Ingles is a professional journalist who covers politics and Ohio government for the Ohio Public Radio and Television for the Ohio Public Radio and Television Statehouse News Bureau. She reports on issues of importance to Ohioans including education, legislation, politics, and life and death issues such as capital punishment. Jo started her career in Louisville, Kentucky in the mid 80’s when she helped produce a televised presidential debate for ABC News, worked for a creative services company and served as a general assignment report for a commercial radio station. In 1989, she returned back to her native Ohio to work at the WOSU Stations in Columbus where she began a long resume in public radio.