Nonmedical sales make up nearly two-thirds of Ohio marijuana purchases

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Although marijuana prices in Ohio are still significantly higher than in neighboring Michigan, cannabis prices have decreased in the four months recreational sales have been legal.

Since dispensaries were first permitted to sell recreational marijuana on Aug. 6, Ohio cannabis sales have generated nearly $350 million, 62% of which were nonmedical sales. According to data from the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control, recreational marijuana sales have consistently outpaced medical sales.

The cost of cannabis in Ohio is also decreasing, which will affect total sale numbers. In August, the average cost of an ounce of dried cannabis flower was $261.50. The same amount of cannabis has an average cost of $211 in December, although data is only available through Dec. 16. That marks a $50 decrease in cost for Ohioans in just four months.

Since recreational marijuana sales have been legalized, Ohio has kept track of the data in several ways. They have tracked total sales, as seen in the graph above, but fluctuating prices can make it difficult to tell how many sales have been made. Ohio also tracks sales by total receipts, or totaling each transaction.

Looking at the receipt data, nonmedical sales are nearly twice as common as medical sales. Nonmedical sales have also made up 5% more of total sales each month by receipt data then they have in total sales by dollar amount. For instance, nonmedical sales in August made up 58% of total sales, but 63% of total transactions. This trend continues rising almost to the exact percentage; in November, nonmedical sales made up 65% of total sales in dollars and 70.5% of total transactions.

The disconnect between transactions and dollar totals implies nonmedical purchases are far more frequent but possibly less expensive than medical sales. This trend is particularly interesting because nonmedical marijuana is subject to a 10% excise tax medical marijuana is not subject to, making it more expensive to purchase recreationally.

In total, recreational marijuana sales have hit $215,274,782 in its first four months. According to the Division of Cannabis Control, nearly three million nonmedical transactions have made up that total.