CINCINNATI (WXIX) – Sales of recreational marijuana in Ohio are soaring after it was legalized last week, but it’s causing problems for patients who use marijuana for medical purposes because they can no longer afford the drug.
Marijuana for medical purposes has been legal in Ohio since 2016, but the sudden influx of recreational marijuana buyers has shaken up the market. Many patients fear that if the trend continues, they will no longer be able to purchase medical marijuana for their treatment.
One patient, who asked not to be named, said he has been using medical marijuana in Ohio for years and doesn’t understand why prices have skyrocketed. As a child, he suffered a brain injury after a car accident. Medical marijuana was a treatment for him.
“A half ounce wouldn’t cost more than $80,” he said. “Now it’s $130. The $80 wasn’t on sale. That was the regular price.”
Medical marijuana users are taxed at a lower rate than recreational users, but it is more expensive than it was a few months ago, which is causing problems for him when it comes to treatment.
“I used to pay only half,” he said. “The street market is still booming. The black market will continue to do well, especially at current prices.”
He said he has contacted dispensaries. They blame supply and demand for the rising cost of medical marijuana. He said he knows some people who have gone to Michigan.
“Because there you get twice what you pay here,” he said. “Even if it was a good price.”
Because marijuana is still a Schedule 1 drug according to the Food and Drug Administration, it’s still illegal at the federal level and can’t be transported across state lines. But he says he’s just trying to keep costs under control.
“There are people who like the quality of the stuff and want to go there to buy the product,” he said. “But we’re not going to go there and pay double the price of what we just paid.”
Industry experts who spoke to FOX19 NOW said their top priority is ensuring supplies are available to patients who use medical marijuana. They say all supply decisions are made based on medical care. They also reiterated that transporting cannabis across state lines is illegal.
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