Ohio proposes fees for medical marijuana grow licenses

Ohio licensing fees for medical marijuana growers would be among the highest in the country if rules drafted by the Ohio Department of Commerce are approved (Source: “Ohio medical marijuana grow licenses would be capped at 18, cost $200,000,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, Nov. 1, 2016). 

Would-be medical marijuana growers would compete initially for up to 18 state cultivator licenses -- 12 "Level I” licenses for up to 15,000 square feet of growing space and six "Level II" licenses for up to 1,600 square feet. Growers would pay a $20,000 application fee and $180,000 license fee for a Level I license and a $2,000 application fee and $18,000 license fee for a Level II license. 

If adopted, Ohio's large-grow license would cost more than cultivator licenses issued in every state that licenses medical marijuana cultivators except New York and Illinois, which limited its cultivation licenses to 22 statewide. Pennsylvania, which passed a medical marijuana law shortly before Ohio, has proposed a $210,000 application and license fee for up to 25 cultivators. 

The Ohio Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee reviewed the plan Tuesday morning, and the full rules have been posted to the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program website for public comment.